Senator Gounardes: New lockdown exercise rules are a major step towards keeping children truly safe, but there are still too many mandatory exercises

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 16, 2024

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes issued the following statement today in response to new regulations governing school closure exercises adopted by the New York State Board of Regents:

“Our current approach to school closure drills traumatizes children more than it keeps them safe. The board’s newly adopted regulations are an important step toward changing that. They ensure that drills are conducted in a trauma-informed and age-appropriate manner, include accommodations for students with disabilities, PTSD, and other needs, and provide parents with advance notice prior to drills.

“We also need to adjust the size of the lockdown drill mandate to bring New York in line with other states. Currently, state law requires schools to conduct four drills per year — more than 46 other states. My bill implements nationally recommended best practices by changing the minimum to two, while giving schools full discretion to conduct more drills if they want. Other states, including Connecticut and New Jersey, have taken similar steps.

“As a father, I am proud to have started this important public conversation and I am deeply committed to ensuring that our children’s schools are truly safe. Reforming our approach to lockdown exercises is part of a holistic strategy to make this happen.”

Press contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

[email protected]

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