California Education Code §33355 (SB 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law) requires every school district, county office of education, and charter school to develop, adopt, and implement a written extreme-weather protocol. The deadline was July 1, 2026. The protocol must cover outdoor activities across all grade levels, including physical education, recess, lunch periods, after-school programs, field trips, and school-sponsored events. It must incorporate the California Department of Education’s standardized guidelines and include clear thresholds, monitoring procedures, communication plans, staff training, and recordkeeping.
Use the checklist below to confirm your district has the core elements in place.
Governance
- Written extreme-weather protocol that addresses extreme heat, poor air quality, excessive precipitation, flooding, and other hazardous conditions.
- Protocol formally adopted by the governing board or authorized body.
- Designated staff member or team responsible for maintaining and updating the protocol.
- Annual review process scheduled and documented, with updates made to reflect new guidance, local conditions, or lessons learned.
Hazard Thresholds
- Clear, measurable thresholds for each covered hazard (heat, air quality, precipitation, flooding, and others) based on the California Department of Education’s standardized guidelines, including the CDPH Heat Risk Grid.
- Defined actions for each threshold level (modify activity, relocate indoors or to shade, postpone, or cancel).
- Indoor or sheltered alternative activities identified for each school site.
- Hydration and rest provisions included for heat-related thresholds.
Monitoring
- Procedures for monitoring conditions that can trigger protocol actions.
- Preference for on-site measurement at each campus rather than relying solely on regional forecasts or intermittent handheld checks.
- Method for obtaining real-time data on temperature, heat index or WBGT, air quality, precipitation, and other relevant conditions.
- Clear assignment of who monitors conditions and how often during the school day and for after-school or weekend activities.
Communication
- Named roles and escalation steps for decision-making when thresholds are reached.
- Procedures for notifying staff, students, and families when outdoor activities are modified, relocated, postponed, or canceled.
- Method for communicating changes quickly and consistently across multiple school sites.
- Plan for coordinating with local agencies when broader weather or air-quality events affect the district.
Staff Training
- Training provided to all staff who supervise outdoor activities (teachers, coaches, recess monitors, after-school staff, and administrators).
- Training covers recognition of weather-related distress in students and the specific actions required by the district protocol.
- Materials and procedures simple enough for non-experts to follow without interpreting complex meteorological data.
- Documentation that training has been completed and is refreshed as needed.
Record Keeping
- Time-stamped records of weather conditions and protocol decisions (modifications, relocations, cancellations).
- System for retaining records so they are available for annual reviews, audits, or liability inquiries.
- Process for documenting that the protocol was followed during extreme weather events.
- Annual review notes and any updates retained with the protocol.
Conclusion
A complete SB 1248 protocol protects students and reduces risk for the district. The checklist above covers the essential governance, threshold, monitoring, communication, training, and recordkeeping elements required by the law. Districts that pair clear written procedures with reliable on-site monitoring and automated alerts create both safer campuses and stronger documentation.
Review your current protocol against each item, close any gaps, and schedule the required annual review. Doing so keeps the district compliant and ready for the next extreme weather event.
Need help turning this checklist into a fully operational, monitored protocol? Contact Weatherstem for a 15-minute walkthrough of a compliant solution.
FAQs
What is required for SB 1248 compliance in California school districts? Every local educational agency must have a written extreme-weather protocol that includes defined hazard thresholds, monitoring procedures, communication plans, staff training, recordkeeping, and an annual review. The protocol must be adopted and implemented, covering outdoor activities across all grade levels.
Does SB 1248 require on-site weather monitoring? The law requires procedures for monitoring conditions that trigger protocol actions. On-site, real-time measurement at each campus provides the location-specific data and timestamped records that support consistent decisions and audit readiness.
How often must the SB 1248 protocol be reviewed? The protocol must be reviewed and updated at least annually to incorporate best practices, changes in weather patterns, new guidance, and feedback from stakeholders.
Related SB 1248 Resources