Emergencies can occur at the most inopportune times and take many forms. From severe weather to responding to a behavioral health crisis, being prepared with a plan that has been created by your school’s team and local partners, approved by your trustees, and practiced by your school community is vital to increasing student and staff safety. Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) provide guidance and practical solutions on how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergency situations. This planning process helps schools minimize injuries and property damage during an incident, and expedites the recovery process following an incident.
The resources, tools, and professional development opportunities included on the web pages below are designed to help schools prepare for and respond to emergency situations.
Current Montana law regarding emergency planning in schools: MCA 20-1-401
Please find the current Gun Free Schools Act Data for Montana: GFSA 2020 2021
Standard Response Protocols: Situational Awareness Emergency Checklist for Schools
In partnership with safety experts from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, Montana Disaster and Emergency Services, and the Montana Safe School Center, the OPI is pleased to make available the Standard Response Protocols: Situational Awareness Emergency Checklist to Montana schools.
This checklist is an updated version of the "All Hazards Emergency Checklist" resource that was commonly used by Montana schools as a guidance document for responding to emergency situations. This updated resource includes the latest guidance on school safety protocols and features new emergency checklists that were not previously featured.
Access the Standard Response Protocols: Situational Awareness Emergency Checklist
Montana AED Reimbursement Program
In 2025, the Montana Legislature passed HB 869, which appropriated a grant fund for school districts for reimbursement of the purchase and ongoing maintenance of automatic external defibrillators (AED).
The grant program shall provide a reimbursement of $1 for every $1 paid by a school district up to a maximum state contribution of $700 per AED. The funds will be disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis in two grant periods. The first grant application period closes October 15 2025, and each school district can reimburse up to $700 in the first grant application period for an AED or AED maintenance. School districts can apply for additional reimbursements in the second grant application period, where any remaining funds will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. The second application period opens January 15 2026 and closes March 15 2026.
Reimbursement requests will be reviewed monthly after the 15th of each month, with reimbursement sent to districts by the 15th of the following month. School districts will be notified of eligible or non-eligible reimbursement submissions.
Application: https://montanaopi.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tRlBi8bjsV3t7E
Questions about the AED Reimbursement Program? Contact Christy Mock-Stutz, Assistant Chief Program Officer at christy.mock-stutz@mt.gov or Katie Bloodgood, Legislative Director at katie.bloodgood@mt.gov