Wyoming school drill law

Which drills does Wyoming require, and how often?

Every public and private school in Wyoming must hold a fire drill at least once every month. Safety drills may replace fire drills if the local fire department approves and coordinates, as long as each school still holds fire drills at least four times in an academic year. When safety drills are substituted, the school's fire alarm must be tested at each fire or safety drill. A safety drill is any organized response to a potential threat to students' health and safety. School administration supervises the drills and decides which types of safety drills fit each school. Separately, Wyoming's Council on Fire Prevention and Electrical Safety adopts the International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, by reference. Under that code, which Wyoming adopts in Wyo. Admin. Code 041.0002.1, Group E (educational) buildings must hold an emergency evacuation drill every month, with all occupants taking part. The same code requires a school's first emergency evacuation drill of each school year to be held within 10 days of the start of classes. In severe climates, the fire code official has the authority to change how often evacuation drills are held and where they end. Wyoming's adoption is fixed to the 2024 edition: it does not take in later amendments or editions of the code.

Do fire officials take part?

Where a paid fire department exists, a fire department member must be asked to attend each fire or safety drill to give instruction and feedback.

What about school bus drills?

Each school bus driver must hold an emergency evacuation drill at least twice each school year. Records of each bus evacuation drill must be kept on file with the school district. The bus drill duty is part of the minimum bus operation standards each school district must keep. The Department of Education's school bus rule (Chapter 2) sets vehicle standards; it adopts the national school transportation specifications only for bus equipment, specially equipped buses and alternative fuels.

Who is covered?

The fire drill duty covers every public and private school in Wyoming. The chapter that holds the drill requirement applies to school district trustees. Charter schools are public schools under Wyoming law: a district-granted charter school is a public school within that district, and a charter granted by the state charter school authorizing board is an independent public school within the district where it sits.

What bills were filed?

A 2025 school safety bill, HB0031, was not considered by the Senate in Committee of the Whole (the full chamber sitting as a committee). A 2019 bill, SF0064, failed in the House Committee of the Whole, 13 votes to 43.