Kansas school drill law

What drills does Kansas require?

Kansas's drill law sits in the fire-safety statutes, K.S.A. 31-133, and requires administrators of public and private schools (but not community colleges, colleges or universities) to hold fire, tornado and crisis drills each school year. The State Fire Marshal's rule, K.A.R. 22-18-2, carries it out.

Fire and crisis drills must happen at some time during school hours, apart from the regular end-of-day dismissal. The State Fire Marshal's drill rule, K.A.R. 22-18-2, names fire, tornado and crisis drills only; it does not name earthquake, reunification, evacuation-only or shelter-in-place drills. The official current rule was last amended March 29, 2024, and has not been amended since, including after HB 2534. The fire drill provision, K.S.A. 31-133(a)(5) as amended in 2026, sets no deadline for the first fire drill of the year; it sets only the count of four a year during school hours. KSDE's July 30, 2026 guidance says armed-assailant, active-shooter and intruder drills are not mandatory, and that it should not be read as requiring schools to hold them.

How must drills be run?

Fire drills must be unannounced, use the regular fire alarm, and include every floor, wing and section of each building. During a fire drill, teachers and administrators must walk their students out and account for each one. Tornado drills must be unannounced and use an alert different from the fire alarm and the crisis alarm. Tornado procedures need State Fire Marshal approval, and administrators must work with the local emergency manager, where there is one, to set them. Crisis drills must be unannounced and use an alert different from the fire and tornado alarms. How crisis drills are run may be subject to approval by KSDE's (Kansas State Department of Education's) Safe and Secure Schools unit. The State Fire Marshal may grant a variance in the number or manner of drills for students receiving special education or related services.

What records must schools keep?

Fire drill and tornado drill records must be kept on State Fire Marshal forms and posted where they are easy to see.

What about school bus drills?

Each school district's governing body (the local board of education or other entity with authority over the district) must ensure school bus emergency evacuation drills are held at least once each semester. Each bus drill must be supervised by the transportation supervisor or a designee. The transportation supervisor must document each bus drill, including the date, the number of students taking part and the names of supervising staff, and keep it on file for at least two years.

Who is covered?

The fire drill duty falls on administrators of public and private schools. Kansas law places charter schools within the public school system, operating within a school district structure. To be established or continued, a Kansas charter school must assure that it follows applicable health, safety and access laws.

What did the 2026 law change about active shooter drills?

HB 2534 was approved by the Governor on April 9, 2026, and the Legislature's bill status lists it as enacted. The act takes effect on publication in the statute book. It is Chapter 128 of the 2026 Session Laws, and its amendment of K.S.A. 31-133 took effect July 1, 2026. That section was further amended by § 8 of HB 2029, which reconciled it with another 2026 bill, HB 2739. It defines crisis drills to include intruder response drills, lockdown drills and active shooter drills. No crisis drill at a public or private school may include an active shooter simulation or any part of one. The current K.S.A. 31-133(e), as reconciled by HB 2029, keeps this ban. Any public or private school that holds an active shooter drill must follow the new law's rules, the Students Safe at School Act. That Act covers district-run public schools and accredited nonpublic schools teaching any of grades K-12. An active shooter drill does not include sensory parts or elements that mimic a real shooting. For grades K-5, an active shooter drill means tabletop exercises and finding the right places for students to go in an emergency. No school may hold or allow an active shooter simulation on school property where students in grades K-8 regularly attend. The law does not stop law enforcement and adult school staff from holding tactical training exercises on school property, if conditions set in the law are met.

Must parents be told?

Schools must notify parents at least 24 hours before an active shooter drill, active shooter simulation or tactical training exercise. The notice must say the parent may opt their student out. If notice cannot go out 24 hours ahead, it must go out within 24 hours after the drill or simulation ends. A student opted out of an active shooter drill or simulation must have the chance to take part in alternative safety education, and may not be treated negatively or punished for not taking part.

What must boards and KSDE do?

KSDE had to publish best-practice guidelines for active shooter drills by October 1, 2026, and issued its guidance under HB 2534. Each board of education or governing body must adopt active shooter drill policies consistent with KSDE's guidelines. Once a year, each board must review how well active shooter drills work and what effect they have.