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 at least two additional lock-down drills during the remainder of the school session.  Lock-down plans and drills shall be in compliance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code, Va. Code § 27-94 et seq.

  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