Required Reporting through Sentinel

The Office of School Safety and Security of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) works to build the capacity of school systems and regional education service centers (ESCs) to promote the physical and psychological well-being of students and staff - recognizing that safer schools positively impact students

Overview

The purpose of this To the Administrator Addressed (TAA) is to announce the adoption of 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §103.1213, Required Reporting through Sentinel. Sentinel is TEA’s formal school safety system designed to collect, process, store and distribute school safety and security information. 

Required Reporting through Sentinel

In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), Sections §37.1083 and TEC, §37.115, each school district and open-enrollment charter school is required to submit information requested by TEA in their efforts to monitor the implementation and operation of school system safety and security requirements. Sentinel serves as a repository for all safety and security-related data submitted by school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, campuses and other entities to TEA. 

19 TAC §103.1213 requires school systems to report the following information through Sentinel: 

1. Behavioral Threat Assessments - Effective August 1, 2025, members of a threat assessment team shall utilize the threat assessment instrument, manual, and field guide in Sentinel.
2. District Vulnerability Assessments - Any documentation requested by TEA for a district vulnerability assessment must be uploaded to Sentinel.
3. Emergency Management - School systems shall input their upcoming school year calendar into Sentinel and must verify all district facilities listed in Sentinel reflect the correct address and campus emergency contact information; emergency closure information must be immediately recorded in Sentinel; and, subsequent to a school system superintendent change, the direct contact information of the superintendent (or person acting in that capacity) must be updated in Sentinel.
4. Intruder Detection Audits - Any documentation requested by TEA for an intruder detection audit must be uploaded to Sentinel.

Any document or information collected, identified, developed or produced relating to the monitoring of school district safety and security requirements under this section is confidential under Sections §418.177 and §418.181, Government Code, and not subject to disclosure under Texas Government Code, Chapter 552.

The effective date of the rule was December 15, 2024.

For Additional Information 

For questions, information, or guidance related to this TAA, please contact the Office of School Safety and Security at SafeSchools@TEA.Texas.gov.