The New York State Education Department is banning realistic active shooter drills in schools in an effort to make them less traumatic for students.
The states new rules call for a trauma-informed and age-appropriate approach to drills that excludes the use of any props, actors or tactics depicting violence when school or extracurricular activities are in session. The new rules also require schools to notify staff members and pupils about drills ahead of time. Parents are to be notified a week in advance.
The rules will take effect in the coming school year. New York schools public and nonpublic will still be required to conduct eight evacuation drills and four lockdown drills every year.
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