AN ACT to provide for emergency preparedness education in schools.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  Article 7B of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Part to read:

Part 7. Instructional Requirements.

§ 115C‑76.80.  Instructional requirements.

Each public school unit shall provide instruction pursuant to the requirements of this Part.

§ 115C‑76.85.  Emergency preparedness education.

(a)        Instruction shall be provided in emergency preparedness from kindergarten through high school. The State Board of Education shall adopt standards for instruction in emergency preparedness, differentiated between elementary school, middle school, and high school.

(b)        Standards for elementary school instruction shall begin not before grade three and include at least the following:

(1)        Education on man‑made and natural disasters.

(2)        Roles of various parties during disasters, such as (i) students, (ii) teachers, and (iii) first responders.

(3)        The emergency response plan of the school or local school administrative unit and any supplies that are available in accordance with the emergency response plan.

(c)        Standards for middle school instruction shall include at least the following:

(1)        Updated instruction from the elementary school standards to reflect any changes that have occurred or to reflect the student's new school placement.

(2)        Completion of a project researching a past disaster, whether natural or man‑made.

(3)        Responses to mass casualty events, including the different types of mass casualty events.

(4)        Education on electrical hazards and how to exert proper care around electrical sources.

(d)       Standards for high school instruction shall include at least the following:

(1)        Updated instruction from the elementary school and middle school standards to reflect any changes that have occurred or to reflect the student's new school placement.

(2)        Introduction to the material in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Manual issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

(e)        Local school administrative units shall determine the appropriate courses during which instruction pursuant to this section shall be provided.

SECTION 1.(b)  Part 1 of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 115C‑81.67.  Emergency preparedness.

Each local board of education shall develop and implement emergency preparedness instruction consistent with the requirements of G.S. 115C‑76.85.

SECTION 1.(c)  Article 4 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 116‑69.05.  Informational literacy.

The school shall provide instruction in emergency preparedness consistent with G.S. 115C‑76.85.

SECTION 1.(d)  G.S. 116‑235(a1) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

(1a)    The Board of Trustees shall ensure that instruction in emergency preparedness consistent with G.S. 115C‑76.85 is included in the standard course of study for the School.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2025‑2026 school year.