Bill > H968

This bill requires North Carolina public schools to provide comprehensive emergency preparedness education for students from kindergarten through high school, with age-appropriate curriculum developed by the State Board of Education. Elementary school instruction (starting in grade three) will cover man-made and natural disasters, the roles of students, teachers, and first responders, and school emergency response plans. Middle school curriculum will build on elementary lessons, include a disaster research project, teach about mass casualty events, and provide education on electrical hazards. High school instruction will further update previous learning and introduce material from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Manual, which is a federal emergency management educational resource. Local school administrative units will determine the specific courses where this instruction will be delivered. The bill mandates that all public school units, local boards of education, and relevant educational institutions implement these emergency preparedness standards, with the requirements set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, giving schools time to develop and integrate the new curriculum.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H968