On August 16, 2021,
the Governor signed a bill that amended the School Safety Drill Act. The
details are as follows:
Provides that parents or guardians must receive
prior notice of a law enforcement drill not less than 5 days prior to the
drill.
Provides that a law
enforcement drill:
o must
not include simulations that mimic an actual school shooting incident or active
shooter event
o must
be announced in advance to all school personnel and students prior to the
commencement of the drill
o must
include content that is age appropriate and developmentally appropriate
o must
include and involve school personnel, including school-based mental health
professionals
o must
include trauma-informed approaches to address the concerns and well-being of
students and school
personnel. Requires a school district to include in its annual review of each school building’s emergency and
crisis response plans, protocols, and procedures on examination of the
efficacy and effects of law enforcement
drills. Effective immediately, “schools must provide sufficient information and notification to parents and
guardians
in advance of any walk-through lockdown drill that involves the participation
of students and must
also
provide to parents and guardians an opportunity to exempt their child for any
reason from
participating in the walk-through lockdown drill”.
We will continue to collaboratively work with
local law enforcement to implement these drills. If you have any questions,
please contact your building principal.