223P - Safety Drills

  1. Fire Drills
    Each school shall hold a fire drill at least twice during the first 20 days of each session and shall hold at least two additional fire drills during the remainder of the school session.  Evacuation routes for students are posted in each room.  No fire drills shall be conducted during periods of mandatory testing required by the Board of Education.  

  2. Lock-Down Drills
    Each school shall hold a lock-down drill at least twice during the first 20 days of each school session and one additional lock-down drill after the first 60 days of the school session. Each school provides parents of enrolled students with at least 24 hours’ notice before the school conducts any lock-down drill. Such notice is not required to include the exact date and time of the lock-down drill.

    Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are exempt from mandatory participation in lock-down drills during the first 60 days of the school session. The Superintendent develops procedures to implement such exemption. Each pre-kindergarten and kindergarten student participates in each lock-down drill after the first 60 days of each school session
     
  3. Tornado Drills
    There shall be at least one tornado drill every school year in every school.  

  4. School Bus Emergency Drills 
    Each school having school buses shall hold a drill in leaving school buses under emergency circumstances at least once during the first 90 calendar days of each school session and more often, if necessary. 

  5. Emergency Situations
    In addition to the drills mentioned above, training shall be provided to each student and employee at least once each school year on safety procedures in the event of an emergency situation on school property.

Legal Reference(s):
Code of Virginia 1950, as amended, Section(s) 22.1-137, 22.1-137.1, 22.1-137.2, 22.1-184

Acts 2006, c. 164.

8VAC 20-131-260


Cross Reference(s):
Policy 221P, Administration- School Crisis, Emergency Management and Medical Emergency Response Plan


Adopted: August 19, 2003
Amended: July 19, 2016
Amended: April 17, 2018
Amended: June 18, 2019
Amended: June 16, 2020