School Safety Resources
Governor’s School Safety Correspondence
Governor’s Office News Releases
Legislative Session School Safety Guidance
- Sentinel Update (PDF) Published June 27, 2024
- 88th Legislature School Safety Bill Review (YouTube) Published October 16, 2023
- House Bill 3 Overview and Guidance Video (YouTube) Published August 25, 2023
- Armed Security Personnel Options Webinar (YouTube) Published September 15, 2023
- Guidelines for Multihazard Emergency Operations (PDF) Published April 18, 2024
- District Vulnerability Assessment
The Office of School Safety and Security will offer two webinars that will provide a high-level overview of the What, Where, When, Why, Who, and How of District Vulnerability Assessments.- Participants Must:
- Be Superintendents and/or their school safety designee.
- Have a registered Zoom account for verification and authentication purposes.
- Register using their district email address.
- Participants Must:
- TEA Intruder Detection Audits 2023-2024 (PDF) Published August 8, 2024
- FY 2023 School Safety Allotment Report (PDF) Published June 4, 2024
- Vendor Directory: Silent Panic Alert Technology (PDF) Published August 12, 2025
- Vendor Directory: Emergency Response Campus Mapping (PDF) Published June 20, 2025
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Breaching Tools and Ballistic Shields (PDF) Published August 19, 2025
School Safety Standards Rule Resources
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- School Safety Standards and New Grant Opportunity Webinar FAQ (PDF)
- School Safety Related Grants - FAQ Submission
- Safety and Facility Enhancement (SAFE) Grant
The 88th Texas Legislative Session appropriated $800M towards supporting school systems in meeting the adopted school safety standards. School systems that have applied to the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant and have not certified compliance with the facility requirements are highly encouraged to complete the Safety and Facility Enhancement (SAFE) grant needs assessment.- SAFE Grant Program Guidelines (PDF) Published August 24, 2023
- SAFE Grant Needs Assessment Preview (PDF) Published August 24, 2023
- SAFE Grant Needs Assessment Published August 24, 2023
- More information can be found on the TEA Grant Opportunities page.
- SAFE Grant Cycle 2 (Launching March 28th)
- SAFE Grant Cycle 2 Overview March 2024 Webinar (PDF) Published March 19, 2024
- SAFE Cycle 2 - March 2024 Webinar (YouTube) Published March 19, 2024
- SAFE Grant Cycle 2 FAQs Published March 19, 2024
- SAFE Grant Cycle 2 – Grant Allocations (PDF) Published March 21, 2024
- 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant
TEA released a formula-based grant application to support the school safety standards proposed rules referenced above. The grant will allow for pre-award for items purchased on or after June 1, 2022. For more information, LEAs should review the allocation funding, allowable costs, and grant links listed below.- School Safety Formula Grant Allowable Costs (PDF) Published November 3, 2022
- School Safety Formula Grant Allocation Funding
- Allocation by Local Education Agency (PDF) Published November 3, 2022
- Allocation by Education Service Center (PDF) Published November 3, 2022
- The grant application will be available on the TEA Grant Opportunities page.
- 2022-2025 School Safety Standards FAQs
- See the School Safety Related Grant Programs webpage here.
- 2022-2024 Silent Panic Alert Technology Grant (Application Closed)
TEA released a formula grant program on October 28, 2022, to provide grant funds to LEAs to purchase silent panic alert technologies for campuses as a measure of school safety. Silent panic alert technology is generally defined as a silent system signal generated by the activation of a device, either manually or through software applications, intended to signal a life-threatening or emergency situation (such as an active shooter, intruder, or other emergency situation) requiring a response from law enforcement and/or other first responders.
- School Safety Standards Cost Estimates
With the release of the School Safety Standards, TEA has designed cost collection tools to assist LEAs. Although the survey collection has closed, all school systems that need to upgrade facilities to meet the School Safety Standards are highly encouraged to utilize these tools.- School Safety Standards Cost Estimate Tools
Audit Resources
- Exterior Door Safety Audit
- Campus-level Exterior Door Safety Audit Tracker (Excel) Published June 30, 2022
- District-level Exterior Door Safety Audit Tracker (Excel) Published June 30, 2022
- Weekly Exterior Door Sweeps
- Weekly Exterior Door Sweeps Webinar Recording (Video) Published August 18, 2022
- Weekly Exterior Door Sweeps Webinar Deck (PDF) Published August 12, 2022
- Campus-Level Weekly Exterior Door Sweep Tool (Excel) Published August 18, 2022
- District-Level Weekly Exterior Door Sweep Tool (Excel) Published July 21, 2022
- Summer Audit
- Summer Targeted Partial Safety Audit (Excel) Published June 30, 2022
- Summer Safety Audit Webinar Recording (Video) Published July 14, 2022
- Summer Safety Audit Webinar Deck (PDF) Published July 14, 2022
Texas School Safety Center
The Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University serves as a central location for school safety information and provides schools with research, training, and technical assistance to reduce youth violence and promote safety in Texas.
- List of School Safety Recommendations to address before start of the 2022-2023 school year
- List of School Safety Recommendations to address before start of the 2018-2019 school year (PDF)
Training Opportunities
- Standard Response Protocol/Standard Reunification Method Certified Trainer Workshops
- Threat Assessment Management Workshops
Cybersecurity Resources
- K-12 Cybersecurity Initiative
- TX K-12 Cybersecurity Initiative Updates (TAA) Published September 21, 2023
- TX K-12 Cybersecurity Initiative (TAA) Published June 15, 2023
Additional School Safety Resources
- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) – More information on School Marshal training
- Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) – More information on active shooter training
Required Background Checks
Mental Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors (PDF)
- Preventing Youth Violence: Opportunities for Action (PDF)
- Connecting the Dots: An Overview of the Links Among Multiple Forms of Violence (PDF)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA):
- The School Mental Health Referral Path (SMHRP) Toolkit (PDF)
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Summary (PDF)
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a free, evidence-based training available to all educators. MHFA is an 8-hour instructor led course, which teaches the general public about the signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorders.
MHFA is free to teachers and any school district employee. Education Service Centers (ESCs) and Independent School Districts (ISDs) can contact the local mental health authority (LMHA) or local behavioral health authority (LBHA) in their areas and begin the process of scheduling training during June, July, and August 2018, and continue their efforts to train throughout Fiscal Year 2019. There is an MHFA coordinator at each LMHA/LBHA who can help schedule a training class.
To identify the LMHA/LBHA in your area, please visit: https://hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/find-your-local-mental-health-or-behavioral-health-authority.
Access information for the LMHA/LBHA through the online search tool: http://www.dshs.texas.gov/mhservices-search/.
To download a copy of the crosswalk of Texas LMHA’s/LBHA and LEA, including the designated Mental Health First Aid Coordinator: Crosswalk of LMHA and TEA (PDF)
Infectious Diseases
Integrated Pest Management
Title 4 Agriculture, Part 1 Texas Department of Agriculture, Chapter 7 Pesticides, Subchapter H Structural Pest Control Service, Division 7 Integrated Pest Management Program for School Districts
- School Integrated Pest Management
- http://schoolipm.tamu.edu
- http://schoolipm.tamu.edu/more-information/who-to-contact
TAC 7.114 Definitions
TAC 7.201 Responsibility of School Districts
TAC 7.202 Education Requirements and Responsibilities of IPM Coordinators
TAC 7.203 Responsibilities of Certified Applicators and Licensed Technicians
TAC 7.204 Pesticide Use in School Districts
TAC 7.205 Incidental Use for Schools
Weather and Disaster Information
The Texas Education Agency provides a number of resources for school districts affected by extreme weather, natural disasters, or man-made disasters.