South Dakota school drill law

Which drills does South Dakota require, and how often?

Each school board must hold evacuation drills in every school under its jurisdiction.

During evacuation drills, all staff and students must leave the building completely and move to a safe distance. All superintendents, principals, teachers and other school employees must be thoroughly instructed in their duties during evacuation drills.

What does the state rule add?

Under a state rule, each school board or governing body must prepare a written plan for the safety of students. The board or governing body must also hold fire, tornado and other disaster drills for the schools under its jurisdiction; the rule states no frequency. The rule, ARSD 24:43:09:01, was adopted May 4, 2005, effective July 1, 2005.

What does the state fire code add?

A Department of Public Safety rule adopts the 2015 International Fire Code, except as changed in that chapter, as state rules. South Dakota's deletions from that code do not remove its school (Group E) drill sections, 403.5 and 405. Under the adopted fire code, school buildings must have an approved fire safety and evacuation plan. Emergency evacuation drills must be held at the intervals in the code's drill table, or more often where needed. For school buildings, that table sets monthly drills, with all occupants taking part. In severe climates, the fire code official may change the monthly drill frequency. Under the fire code, the first emergency evacuation drill of each school year must be held within 10 days of the start of classes. The fire code also requires drills at different times of day, such as class changes, assemblies or recess, so drills cannot be told apart from real fires. Fire code drills must be designed in cooperation with local authorities.

Does South Dakota require lockdown drills?

The drill statute, SDCL 13-25-10, requires evacuation and fire exit drills; it does not name a lockdown, intruder or active-threat drill. The state rule, ARSD 24:43:09:01, names fire, tornado and other disaster drills; it does not name a lockdown, intruder or active-threat drill either. Under the state-adopted fire code, a school that develops a lockdown plan must follow the code's lockdown-plan rules. That plan must state how often lockdown training happens, and lockdown drills do not replace required fire and evacuation drills.

What records are required?

The superintendent or official in charge must keep a record of evacuation drill dates and evacuation times on a Department of Public Safety form. That record must be available for a State Fire Marshal representative to inspect on request. The safety plan and a record of drill dates and times must be filed in the local superintendent's office. Under the adopted fire code, drill records must include who ran the drill, its date and time, how occupants were notified, the employees on duty and taking part, and how many occupants were evacuated.

Do fire officials take part?

A State Fire Marshal representative or the local fire chief may run evacuation drills at any public or private school to test the warning system and evacuation plan. Under the adopted fire code, the fire code official may require advance notice of drills.

Who is covered?

The statute's drill duty falls on each school board, for every school under its jurisdiction. The state rule's drill duty falls on each school board or governing body. In the rule article that holds it, "school" means a public or nonpublic school approved or accredited by the Secretary of Education, and "governing body" is the term used for the body that runs a nonpublic school. The state accreditation system exists to make sure public and nonpublic schools follow state law and administrative rules. Fire officials' power to run test drills reaches both public and private schools.

What changed recently, and what bills were filed?

The drill statute, SDCL 13-25-10, was last amended in 2004. A 2015 bill, SB 89, would have required school safety plans and lockdown drills in accredited schools. SB 89 failed on the House floor, 30 votes to 37. The House Education version of 2026 HB 1073 would have required an annual cardiac-arrest response drill in public and accredited nonpublic schools. HB 1073's last recorded action: it was deferred to the 41st legislative day. 2025 HB 1094, a school bus safety bill, was signed by the Governor. As enrolled, it changes the rules for passing a stopped school bus and lets video from a school bus's outside camera be used as evidence. It sets no school bus drill requirement.