Expand CPR and First Aid Training Opportunities for Minnesota High School Students and Staff.

 

The purpose of this bill is to provide all Minnesota high school students and staff the opportunity to receive optional

CPR certification and comprehensive first aid training, ensuring that both students and all school personnel are

prepared to respond to emergencies safely and effectively.

 

Minnesota law currently requires CPR instruction in grades 7–12 (Minn. Stat. 120B.236), but it does not provide

certification, full first aid training, or training for teachers and staff. Expanding training to include full first aid

skills and optional certification equips students and staff with practical life-saving skills, promotes emergency

preparedness in schools and communities, and provides students with optional credentials useful in real-world settings.

 

1) “High school student” – any individual enrolled in grades 9–12 in a public or charter school in Minnesota.

2) “Teacher or school staff” – all employees of a Minnesota high school, including teachers, administrators, custodians,

cafeteria staff, office personnel, and other school personnel.

3) “CPR certification” – official recognition by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or equivalent

organization that a participant has successfully completed CPR training.

4) “Full first aid training” – instruction covering CPR, AED use, bleeding control, burns, fractures, choking, and other

emergency response skills.

5) “Certified instructor” – a licensed professional authorized by the American Heart Association, American Red Cross, or

equivalent organization to teach CPR and first aid.

 

Training, materials, and optional certification shall be provided at no cost to students or staff. Funding shall come

from the Minnesota Department of Education, supplemented by community partnerships with EMTs, paramedics, firefighters,

police officers, or nonprofit organizations.

 

Schools must offer optional CPR certification and full first aid training to students annually. All school employees, as

defined above, must have access to CPR and first aid training, with participation strongly encouraged. Participation by

students and staff is voluntary, and non-participation will not affect grades, employment status, or benefits. Schools

failing to offer these programs must submit a plan for implementation to the Minnesota Department of Education. Schools

that fail to provide the required CPR instruction must submit a Corrective Action Plan to the Minnesota Department of

Education within 60 days. Schools that do not submit or follow a Corrective Action Plan shall be ineligible for state

school safety grant funding until compliance is achieved. The Minnesota Department of Education shall publish an annual

public report listing all schools in compliance and non-compliance with this act.

 

This act shall take effect July 1, 2026, allowing schools sufficient time to hire certified instructors, organize

resources, and integrate training into their curriculum.