Legislative Requirements
Act 29 of 2023 establishes requirements that all public and approved and recognized independent schools shall adopt a policy mandating each school site to conduct options-based response drills at each school site in the fall and spring of each academic year. The policy shall require age-appropriate options-based response drills, including fire drills, to be conducted following the guidance issued by the Vermont School Safety Center jointly with the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team and shall require notification to parents and guardians not later than one school day before an options-based response drill is conducted. In issuing the guidance, the Vermont School Safety Center and the Vermont School Crisis Planning Team shall include trauma-informed best practices for implementing options-based response drills. A superintendent shall report completion of the biannual drills to the Agency of Education in a format approved by the Secretary.
Required Reporting
Act 29, Title 16 VSA, Section 1481 requires all schools, public and Independent, to report the completion of options-based response to violent intruder drills and fire drills to the Agency of Education. The AOE has developed a simple webform that will serve as the designated reporting mechanism for the 2024-2025 School Year and should be completed by the Superintendent, Independent School Head, or appropriate designee.
Drills may be reported as they occur throughout the school year and should be reported timely to allow for periodic review by the Agency of Education (biannual cadence is recommended but not required).
Multiple entries can be made using one submission form, or multiple forms can be submitted as drills are completed.
School Safety Drill Guidance
Memo: School Safety Drill Guidance (2024-2025 School Year)
The Division of Fire Safety and the Vermont School Safety Center have developed amended guidance and suggested schedules for school safety drills for the 2024-2025 school year.
Supplemental Resources
VSSC Parent Letter Template for Options-Based Response to Violent Intruder Drills