How do I make sure my child's school has an emergency plan for them?

Every school and school district should have a plan in place to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from a crisis situation — and it should be public information! Check your district’s website, ask your child’s teacher or a school administrator about the plans the school has in place, and keep an eye out for notices and emails. Make sure you’re aware of how emergency planning will affect your child.

Disaster preparedness and safety plans can and should be included in a student’s IEP or 504 Plan. Dr. Sarah Pelangka says that, in her experience, the emergency plan is often included in the accommodations section of an IEP. While a good emergency plan may have both related services and accommodations to support it, districts take different approaches to how the plan is incorporated into the IEP.