Instruction in Arson and Fire Prevention
of ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp State Education Law mandates that every school in ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp State must
provide a minimum of 45 minutes of instruction for each month school is in session in fire and arson prevention, injury prevention and life safety education relating to the protection against injury or death and protection of property against loss or damage as a result of criminally initiated or other preventable fire. The instruction is required for all students and must include materials to educate children on the dangers of falsely reporting a criminal incident or impending explosion or fire emergency involving danger to life or property or impending catastrophe, or a life safety emergency.
Instruction is required in grades K-12 and may be provided by classroom teachers or community resource personnel as designated by the principal. Instruction may be provided as a special subject or integrated within content areas of the curriculum. The ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵapp does notÌýrequire, recommend, endorse, or advise on curriculum.Ìý All curriculum and instructional decisions are made at the local level. The following resources may help support local instruction inÌýfireÌýand arsonÌýprevention:
Schools and district may also wish to collaborate with their localÌýFireÌýDepartment and/or BOCES regarding curriculum and or curricular materials.Ìý
Questions regarding the required instruction in fire and arson prevention may be directed to the Office of Standards and Instruction at 518-474-5922 or P12StandardsInstruction@nysed.gov. Questions regarding fire safety issues may be directed to the Fire Safety Unit, Office of Facilities Planning at (518) 474-3906 orÌýfiresafety@nysed.gov.