Bill > SB2495

This bill, known as The Students Safe at School Act, establishes new requirements for schools regarding active shooter drills and simulations to enhance student safety and well-being. It defines "active shooter drill" as a preparedness exercise for students and staff to respond to an armed intruder, distinguishing it from an "active shooter simulation," which is a more complex exercise for adult personnel that mimics real-life shooting scenarios. The act mandates that all active shooter drills involving students in kindergarten through 12th grade must be accessible, age-appropriate, culturally aware, trauma-informed, and include accommodations for students with various needs. Schools must provide a debriefing period after drills for students to access mental health support, and practice drills must be announced in advance with clear assurances of no immediate danger. Parents or legal guardians must be notified at least 24 hours before a practice drill and have the right to opt their child out, with alternative safety education provided for those who do. Students in grades 6-12 will receive at least one hour of annual, evidence-based violence prevention training covering how to identify warning signs, the importance of seeking help, and reporting dangerous activities. The bill also requires schools to involve students in safety planning, makes public lists of vendors who train school personnel on conducting drills, and mandates the creation of guidelines to measure the effectiveness of drills, with local school boards required to review their impact on student and staff safety and mental health.

Education

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2495.xml