You must provide same day notice to parents after the conclusion of each school security drill.
On January 10, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed P.L. 2021, Chapter 365 into law, which went into effect immediately. The new law focuses on school security drills, requiring that these drills be age-appropriate and conducted in a manner that prevents unnecessary traumatization of schoolchildren.
There are two important notice requirements in the new law.
1. School districts must provide written notification to the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the district, following completion of a school security drill, which must be provided by no later than the end of the school day on which the school security drill is conducted.
2. School districts must ensure that school security drills include clear, developmentally and age-appropriate messaging to students and staff, at the conclusion of the drill, that the event is a drill and that no current danger exists.
NJPSA anticipates that the NJDOE will be providing guidance to school districts on the implementation of the new law, which also contains other provisions concerning the operations of school security drills.
Chapter 365 does NOT apply to fire drills, nor do these notice requirements apply to fire drills.
As you await further information from the NJDOE, NJPSA wants you to understand that the two notice requirements listed above are legally required now and must be implemented in all school security drills you conduct in your schools. The parental notice requirement should be simple and straightforward and not disclose any details of the school security drill. Your district may develop its own messaging, but if not, sample language for such notice could be:
Dear Parent:
Effective January 2022, all schools are legally required to notify parents when we conduct a school security drill. Today, we successfully held our monthly school security drill and then resumed our regular school schedule. Please reach out to {list principal and/or other desired staff members here] if you have any questions. Thank you.
NJPSA will keep you advised of any additional information or guidance on the implementation of Chapter 365.
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