South Dakota school emergency plan rule

Does South Dakota require school emergency plans?

Yes, by agency rule: a Department of Education rule, ARSD 24:43:09:01, requires each school board or governing body to prepare a written plan for the safety of the pupils under its jurisdiction. The rule is titled "Disaster plan and drills." Its source note cites SDR 178, adopted May 4, 2005, effective July 1, 2005.

What must the plan contain?

The rule ties the plan to drills: the board must conduct fire, tornado and other disaster drills in line with the written plan. By statute, each school board must hold evacuation drills in every school under its jurisdiction.

Is the plan filed anywhere?

The plan must be filed in the office of the local superintendent. A record of the dates and times of drills must be filed with the plan in the superintendent's office. The evacuation drill record must be available to a State Fire Marshal representative on request.

How is the plan checked?

The Department of Education's accreditation review asks each district to upload an up-to-date, school-board-approved plan for the safety of pupils, citing ARSD 24:43:09:01. The Department's accreditation page lists the disaster plan as a review component: an up-to-date, board-approved written safety plan for fire, tornado or disaster should be on file. By rule, the accreditation review checks that each public school district or nonpublic school, including all its schools and programs, follows state laws and administrative rules.

How do schools work with fire officials?

The State Fire Marshal's representative or the local fire chief may run evacuation drills to test the warning system and the evacuation plan.

What about training?

All superintendents, principals, teachers, instructors and employees must be thoroughly instructed in their duties under the evacuation drills.

What does the public records law say?

South Dakota's public records law exempts information on protecting property and persons that is specific to a vulnerability assessment or a response plan meant to prevent or reduce criminal acts. The same exemption also covers protective information specific to emergency management or response.

Is there state guidance?

The South Dakota School Safety Center publishes a School Safety Guide for schools to use as a template. The state's guidance encourages, but does not require, districts to tailor the model guide to their needs.

What bills have tried to change this?

2026 HB 1073, as amended in House Education, would have required each school district board and each accredited nonpublic school's governing board to put in place a cardiac emergency response plan in every school under its control, developed with local emergency service providers. HB 1073 was deferred to the 41st legislative day, which ended it. 2025 HB 1035 would have appropriated $10,000,000 for school security grants to public and accredited nonpublic schools; it was tabled. 2015 SB 89 would have required each accredited school to develop a school safety plan by August 1, 2015, and to meet at least once a year to review and update each school's emergency and crisis response plans. SB 89 failed on the House floor, 30 yeas to 37 nays.