One of Maryland's goals for public education is to create and maintain school environments that are safe, drug-free and conducive to learning. In order to achieve this goal, it is essential that local school systems and schools take measures to ensure they are prepared to respond to a variety of emergency situations. Schools are an integral part of the community they serve and, therefore, are not isolated from the issues that affect their communities and our nation. The NO Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires that all local school systems receiving federal funding under Title IV, Part A, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities provide an assurance that they have a crisis management plan in place to respond to crisis and emergency situations on school grounds. In addition, the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) requires local school systems to have an emergency response plan for all schools and central office buildings that includes man-made, technological, or natural disasters.  For additional information on COMAR 13A.02.02.01-.04, which directs the Maryland State Department of Education's Emergency Guidelines for Local School Systems click here.

In Focus MSDE Emergency Planning Guidelines MSDE guidelines for local school systems and schools on developing new plans and reviewing and updating existing school emergency plans.

The Maryland State Department of Education is pleased to announce the release of an updated school emergency planning guide.  MSDE staff developed the guide with the assistance of local school systems, Maryland State Police, Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention, Maryland School Psychologist Association, Maryland Emergency Management Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Maryland Association of Boards of Education. 

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