According to a video produced by the Davis School District, the school that serves as Cokeville Elementary School in the film is actually E. M. Whitesides Elementary School in Layton, Utah. According to Director T. C. Christensen, Whitesides was chosen due to some important structural and physical layout similarities to Cokeville Elementary, which are important to the story. Cokeville Elementary was not used because the Cokeville area doesn't have restaurants, hotels and other infrastructure necessary to support a cast and crew during filming. Christensen also attended Whitesides Elementary.
T.C. Christensen required actor Nathan Stevens, who played David Young, not to interact with the children on set until filming. That way their reactions to Young were genuine and real.
The date was May 16 1986.
Text of the last two frames in the movie:
"This film is dedicated to all the brave people of that day in 1986, and to all parents who teach their children to pray."
"Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." - 2 Kings 6:16.