Oregon school drill law

What drills does Oregon require, and how often?

Oregon law says every school is required to have emergency safeguards to protect students and staff, and those safeguards include drills and instruction so students can respond to an emergency without confusion or panic. At least 30 minutes of each school month must go to teaching students emergency procedures, and at least one drill must be held each school month. At least two earthquake drills must be held each year, and at least one drill on each safety threat. Schools in a tsunami hazard zone must hold at least three earthquake and tsunami drills each year.

What must the drills cover?

Fire drills and instruction must cover routes and ways out of the school building. Earthquake drills must include the response known as "drop, cover and hold on", and in a tsunami hazard zone they must include tsunami drills. Tsunami drills must include immediate evacuation after an earthquake when appropriate, or after a tsunami warning. Safety threat drills must cover evacuation, hold, lockdown, secure and shelter-in-place procedures. In Oregon law, a lockdown is the procedure used when a threat or hazard is inside the building, and a secure is the procedure used when it is outside. Each school district must keep a comprehensive safety program for all students and staff, with procedures for evacuation, hold, lockdown, secure and shelter in place.

What does the state education rule add?

Under the Oregon Department of Education rule, districts, education service districts and public charter schools must make sure all students in the buildings they run are instructed and drilled on emergency procedures as the statute requires. The rule sets fire drills at least once a month, earthquake drills at least twice per school year, and at least three earthquake drills, including tsunami drills, in buildings in a tsunami hazard zone. The governing body must review its comprehensive safety plan and security policies every two years. Department guidance, which is not law, calls for monthly evacuation drills, with one held within the first 10 days of school.

What does the fire code add?

The State Fire Marshal's rule adopts the 2025 Oregon Fire Code (the 2024 International Fire Code as amended by the State Fire Marshal), effective October 1, 2025. Under that code, schools (Group E, the fire code's term for school buildings) must hold fire and evacuation drills monthly, with all occupants taking part. The 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 times of day, including during class changes, assemblies, recess or gym periods. Drills must be designed in cooperation with the local authorities.

Do drills have to be logged or reported?

The drill statute's frequency subsection, ORS 339.408(6), sets no duty to log, certify or report drills to the state. Under the 2025 Oregon Fire Code, schools must keep records of required evacuation drills, including who ran the drill, its date and time, and the time needed to evacuate. A school must notify the fire code official before an evacuation drill only where that official requires it.

Do local officials take part?

Local government units and state agencies involved in emergency planning must review schools' emergency procedures and help schools teach and drill students.

Do parents have to be told?

Oregon's 24-hour parent notice applies to real safety threat actions, not planned drills. After a real safety threat action, the school or district must send parents and guardians an electronic notice within 24 hours.

What about students' wellbeing?

Schools are encouraged, but not required, to teach students in an age-appropriate way about preparing for and recovering from emergencies. The statute's paragraph on what safety threat drills must include, ORS 339.408(5)(d), sets no limit on simulated gunfire or role-played attackers and no opt-out. The Department of Education rule's paragraph on safety threat drills, OAR 581-022-2225(3)(d), likewise sets no such limit and no opt-out.

Who's covered?

The drill statute covers K-12 public and private schools, including public charter schools, and any educational institution with an average daily attendance of 50 or more students.

What has changed recently?

The former drill statute, ORS 336.071, was renumbered ORS 339.408 in 2025. Before HB 3038 (2025), the statute required at least two safety threat drills a year. HB 3038 changed that to at least one drill on each safety threat a year; the law took effect June 24, 2025, and its drill changes became operative January 1, 2026. HB 3083 (2025), a school safety law amending the drill statute, took effect January 1, 2026. HB 4160 (2026) was signed by the Governor on March 31, 2026 and became Oregon Laws 2026, chapter 72, effective July 1, 2027. It adds a cardiac emergency response plan to the district comprehensive safety program, first applying to the 2027-2028 school year; it does not change the drill requirements in ORS 339.408.