TOPEKA, Kan. (KCTV) – Kansas schools cannot conduct an active shooter drill without first notifying parents, and families have the right to opt their children out, under a new state law taking effect this school year.
The Students Safe at School Act applies to every public and private school in Kansas.
What the law requires
Under the law, schools must notify parents at least 24 hours before any active shooter drill.
Students who opt out face no punishment.
The law also bans drills that simulate a real shooting, prohibiting the use of fake gunshots.
After every drill, schools must debrief students and have mental health support on site.
Changes for younger students
Kindergarten through fifth grade students will no longer participate in active shooter drills under the new law.
“Kindergarten through fifth grade will no longer do active shooter drills here in the state of Kansas. They will do a walkthrough or a tabletop exercise. The teachers can say, ‘Hey, if there is an event, this is where I want you to go.’ But no longer will we be doing any active shooter drills in our K through five,” said John Calvert, director of school safety for the Kansas State Department of Education.
Instead, younger students will learn how to recognize when someone may be planning to hurt themselves or others, and what steps to take.
Violence prevention training for older students
Every student in sixth through twelfth grade must now receive at least one hour of violence prevention training each year.
The training covers how to identify warning signs, explains why every threat matters, and shows students how to report dangerous behavior.
“The FBI continuously pushes out data every year. And about 88% of the time after a violent event in our schools, a student steps forward and says, ‘I knew that was going to happen. I was worried about this.’ But they didn’t have that trusted voice, that trusted person to go to and voice their concerns,” Calvert said.
The Kansas State Department of Education must publish a list of approved training programs by Oct. 1, including free options for schools.
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