Oklahoma school drill law

What drills does Oklahoma require, and how often?

Oklahoma requires each district board of education to ensure at least four security drills are held at each public school in the district every school year. Security drills are for securing school buildings to prevent or reduce injuries or deaths from a threat around or in the school. On top of the four security drills, all public schools must hold at least six safety drills.

What does the State Board of Education rule add?

The State Board of Education's rule requires each school district to make sure every public school holds at least ten safety drills per school year at each school site, with all students and teachers taking part. The rule requires each public school to hold at least four security drills per school year, two in each semester. Each public school district must adopt policies and procedures for each required type of safety drill.

What does the fire code add?

Oklahoma's statewide fire code is the 2024 International Fire Code as amended by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission, effective September 14, 2026. Oklahoma makes no change to the code's Chapter 4, which covers emergency planning and drills, so that chapter applies as written. Under the 2024 International Fire Code, as Oklahoma adopts it in OAC 748:20, required evacuation drills must be held at the intervals in its drill table, or more often where needed so all occupants know the procedure. For school buildings (Group E, the fire code's term for schools), that table sets fire and evacuation drills at monthly, with all occupants taking part. Under that code, a school's first evacuation drill of each school year must be held within 10 days of the start of classes. School evacuation drills must be held at different hours of the day or evening, including during class changes, assemblies and recess, so drills can't be told apart from real fires.

Are there timing rules?

One security drill must be held within the first 15 days of each semester. No security drill may be held at the same time of day as an earlier one that school year, and no more than two may be held in one semester. Each fire drill must be held within the first 15 days of a semester and must sound a distinctive signal designated as the fire alarm. Districts may hold more drills at their discretion.

Who takes part?

All students and employees must take part in security drills; the district decides how far students are involved. All students and teachers at public schools must take part in the safety drills. The principal and superintendent must use the remaining safety drills in one of the listed ways, which include following recommendations from the Safe School Committee or any assisting fire or law enforcement department.

Do drills have to be logged or reported?

Each district must document each fire drill in writing by school site, keep the records at least three years, and make them available to the State Fire Marshal on request. Districts must document all other safety drills in writing by school site, with a copy kept at the school, one filed with the district administrative office, and one sent to the Oklahoma School Security Institute (created by the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security). The State Board of Education must adopt rules to carry out the security drill section. Under the board's rule, one copy of each fire drill compliance report stays at the school site and one is filed with the district's administrative office. The rule requires each district to send written drill documentation for each school site to the Oklahoma School Security Institute, using the Institute's forms and procedures. Each district must make all of its safety compliance reports available to the Regional Accreditation Officer during accreditation.

Do parents get notice, and are realistic drills limited?

The security drill section, 70 O.S. § 5-148, sets no parent notice requirement and no limits on how realistic a security drill may be (such as simulated gunfire or role-played attackers); it leaves the extent of student involvement to the district. The safety drill section, 70 O.S. § 5-149, sets no parent notice requirement for safety drills.

Who's covered?

The drill statutes apply to public schools and the district boards that run them. The security drill section places its duty on district boards for public schools; it does not mention private schools. The State Department of Education's list of health and safety laws that charter schools must follow (archived October 2019) includes the security drill statute, 70 O.S. § 5-148. The Safe School Committee section does not apply to technology center schools.

What has changed recently?

Both drill sections were amended in 2016, by HB 2931. The official text of both sections lists no amendment after that 2016 law. SB 169 (2023), a bill, would have required certain law enforcement and EMS providers to be physically present and directly involved in security drills. Its bill history shows it was referred to the Common Education committee. It had no action in the 2024 session; its last recorded action was the House referral to Common Education on March 29, 2023, so it was never enacted. HB 1675 (2026), effective November 1, 2026, requires youth camps and camp facilities to hold periodic drills suited to the hazards they identify. Its drill duty covers camps, not schools.