New York school drill law

What drills does New York require, and how often?

New York requires the principal or person in charge of every public or private school, other than colleges and universities, to train students through drills. Drills must be held at least twelve times each school year, eight of them between September 1 and December 31. Eight of the drills must be evacuation drills, four of which use fire escapes or identified secondary exits, and four must be lockdown drills.

What do the state regulations add?

A Board of Regents regulation says evacuation drills shall be held with students at least eight times each school year, six of them between September 1 and December 31. It says lockdown drills shall be held with students at least four times each school year, two of them between September 1 and December 31. The Regents' 2024 amendment of that regulation (8 NYCRR § 155.17) was formally adopted, effective July 31, 2024, and its current text still sets the four-lockdown rule. One emergency dismissal drill must test early dismissal procedures, held no more than 15 minutes before the normal dismissal time. That drill must test how well the communications and transportation systems work during emergencies. School districts and BOCES (regional education service agencies) must practice the emergency response procedures in their district-wide safety plan and each building-level emergency response plan. Each building-level plan must include procedures for reviewing and conducting drills and other exercises.

What does the fire code say?

The 2025 Fire Code of New York State requires schools (Group E, the fire code's term for school buildings) to time and count drills by Education Law § 807: at least 12 a school year, 8 of them by December 31.

Are there timing rules?

Drills must be held at different times of the school day. Students and staff must not be told in advance of evacuation drills. Under the regulation, drills must be held on different dates, on different days of the week and at different times of the school day. Drills must take place after students and staff have had their annual emergency procedures training. Schools where students sleep must hold four extra drills each year between sunset and sunrise. Buildings running summer school must hold at least two extra drills, one in the first week of summer school. Each school bus must have at least three emergency drills a school year, the first within the first seven days of the fall term. Under the bus regulation, the second bus drill must be held between November 1 and December 31 and the third between March 1 and April 30. At after-school programs and events with outside attendees, those attending must be told the emergency procedures at the start.

Do parents have to be told?

Parents must be notified at least one week before the emergency dismissal drill. Under the regulation, parents must also get advance notice of each drill within the week before it.

Are realistic drills limited?

Under the regulation, all drills must be held in a trauma-informed, developmentally and age-appropriate way, with no props, actors, simulations or other tactics meant to mimic a school shooting, violence or another emergency. Except for evacuation drills, students and staff must be told at the time that it is a drill. Schools that join full-scale exercises with props, actors or simulations must not hold them on a regular school day or during school activities such as athletics, and students may take part only with written parent consent.

Do drills or plans have to be reported?

School authorities must certify on their annual report to the State Education Department that the district complied with the school bus drill rules. The regulation's reporting subdivision, 8 NYCRR § 155.17(f), sets no duty to report or certify school drills; it covers notice when an emergency closes a building and a yearly device and internet access survey. Each district must submit its district-wide school safety plan, and any amendments, to the Commissioner within 30 days of adoption and no later than October 1 each year. Each building-level emergency response plan, and any amendment, must go to local law enforcement and the State Police within 30 days of adoption and no later than October 1 each year.

Who's covered?

Charter schools must meet the same health and safety requirements that apply to other public schools. The State Education Department's stated position is that this makes charter schools subject to Education Law § 2801-a and the school safety plan regulation, including its drill rules.

Do police and emergency officials take part?

Under the regulation, drills are practiced in cooperation with local law enforcement and emergency preparedness officials where possible. Schools and districts may take part in full-scale exercises with local and county emergency responders.

What happens if a principal doesn't comply?

A principal who neglects the drill law commits a misdemeanor (a minor criminal offense), with a fine of up to $50.

Are changes proposed?

A1544, the same bill as S2498, would reduce the number of lockdown drills and require them to use a trauma-informed approach. S2498 would cut the required lockdown drills from four to two and bar lockdown drills from using props, actors or simulations. S2498 passed the Senate on May 6, 2026, and was then referred to the Assembly's education committee. That referral is its last action as of October 27, 2026, so it has not passed the Assembly or become law. A1544 has had no action since it was re-referred to the Assembly Education Committee on January 7, 2026; it remains in committee.