Safety & Security Newsletter
New School Safety Requirements & Updates
Legal Disclaimer
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
- SSSP DATA SURVEY**************************** June 30, 2022 (former deadline Nov 30)
- GUN-FREE SCHOOL REPORTS ********************June 29, 2022
- TEA BULLY REPORT (NEW 87TH LEGISLATURE)***June 16, 2022
- CHARTER SCHOOL AUDIT REPORTS************** August 31, 2022 completion date
- DISTRICT SAFETY & SECURITY MEETING********* Summer 2022 (non-negotiable)
- MANDATORY DRILLS SCHEDULED**************** Before 1st day of school
- STAFF & SUBSTITUTE SECURITY TRAINING*******Before 1st day of school
- SCHOOL BEHAV. THREAT ASSESS. TRAINING*****September 1, 2022
- CONDUCT ACCESS CONTROLS AUDITS*********** September 1, 2022
- CERTIFY SAFETY EFFORTS TO TXSSC*************September 9, 2022
Safe & Supportive School Program (SSSP) Survey Data Collection is due June 30, 2022.
*Respondents
*SSSP Team
*Threat Reports
*Behavioral Threat Assessment Outcomes
*Staff Training
See links below for additional information.
SSSP Survey Data Collection Information 2021-2022
SSSP Team Activity - Campus Name.xlsx | Texas Education Agency
Safe and Supportive School Program (SSSP) Role in AskTED | Texas Education Agency
Superintendents and SSSP designees should look for an email from safeandsupportiveschoolprogram@tea.texas.gov that contains the unique survey link for their LEA. If an LEA cannot locate the email with the link, the LEA should contact a member of the Division of Safe and Supportive Schools at safeandsupportiveschoolprogram@tea.texas.gov.
Members shane.Sexton@tea.texas.gov or hank.weikert@tea.texas.gov will be able to offer you support or assistance. To help LEAs prepare to report the required data, the agency is providing a copy of the 2021-2022 SSSP survey questions.
TEA - Gun Free School Reports
- Made available May 3.
- Complete PR6000
- Due by June 29. 2022.
- Please do not submit until the school year has ended.
- Required submission to receive federal funds.
TEA - Bullying Report (New - 87th Legislature)
- Due PEIMS Summer Submission, June 16
- Element ID: E1727 - Number of Bullying Incidents at each Campus
- Element ID: E1728 - Number of Cyber Bullying at each Campus
- TEC 48.009 (b-4) 2021-2022
- TEA Minimum Standards for Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures - TEA Webpage Link and PDF Link (downloadable)
The Governor's charge to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)
Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to Dr. Kathy Martinez-Prather, the Director of the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) to begin immediately conducting comprehensive school safety reviews to ensure all Texas public schools are following the appropriate procedures to maximize school safety. Governor Abbott instructed the TxSSC ensure all school districts' School Safety and Security Committees meet ahead of the new school year to review their Emergency Operations Plan and address any campus safety needs, ensure the School Behavioral Threat Assessment Team is trained and has reviewed procedures for each campus, ensure all staff and substitutes are trained on their specific district and campus safety procedures, and conduct an assessment of their access control procedures.
District Safety & Security Guidelines and FAQs
The Governor's charge to the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter to Commissioner Mike Morath directed the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to ensure existing school facilities are held to heightened safety standards following the recent tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. "In the wake of this devastating crime, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that our schools provide a safe and secure environment for the children of Texas,” reads the letter. “You should immediately prepare additional rules to ensure that existing school facilities are also held to heightened safety standards. We must do everything possible to protect children and safeguard our schools.”
Governor Abbott specifically requested TEA to:
- instruct school districts to identify actions they can take prior to the start of the new school year that will make their campuses more secure
- instruct all school districts to conduct weekly inspections of exterior doors to verify they are secure during school hours
- develop strategies to encourage school districts to increase the presence of trained law enforcement officers and school marshals on campuses.
The Governor's charge to Texas State University
Governor Greg Abbott sent a letter instructing Executive Director Dr. Pete Blair to begin providing Texas State University's nationally-recognized Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) programs to all school districts across the state, prioritizing school-based law enforcement. Governor Abbott also requested ALERRT to provide an after-action debrief of the shooting at Uvalde once the investigation is complete and of other relevant situations to school administrators, law enforcement, and others charged with keeping our Texas schools safe.
"We sadly recognize we cannot do anything to bring back the precious lives that were taken; however, we must do everything in our power to prevent the same tragic ending from happening again,” reads the letter. “An important part of these prevention efforts must focus on the proper training of law enforcement and school administrators on how to respond when they face the threat of an active shooter on their campus. This vital training, which is delivered by veteran first responders with proven experience in active attack response and police training, will help law enforcement on school.
Read the Governor's letter.
Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training: Hosting Requests (alerrt.org)
There is also information on ALERRT Training at the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service https://teex.org/program/online/# under the School Safety Tab.
Quick Guide to School Safety Presentation Efforts 2022-2023 School Year Created by ESC 16
Texas School Safety & Security Registry (TxSSC)
New Safety Training and Registration Requirements
New Registry Is Now Accepting Applications
A new process for applying to be placed on the Texas School Safety and Security Consultant Registry has been developed to comply with changes to the law mandated by SB11. Subsection (d) of Texas Education Code Sec. 37.2091 now requires the Texas School Safety Center to verify the qualifications of all persons included in the registry.
Need audit consultant services?
Contact your regional education service center. Also, search the registry of credentialed consultants. Coming Soon - https://registry.txssc.txstate.edu/
Clearinghouse - Trainings: What and How Often?
As required by SB 1267, 87th Texas Legislature, SBEC approved a Continuing Education and Training Clearinghouse (Clearinghouse), regarding specific trainings that school districts and open-enrollment charter schools provide for educators and other school personnel. There are no reporting requirements by school districts or open-enrollment charter schools of the adopted professional development policy or the noting of any differences from the recommendations in the Clearinghouse. All documentations are to remain at the local level.
This clearinghouse concerns training frequency for suicide prevention, maintaining positive relationships, bullying, safety training for coaches and extracurricular activities, abuse/sex abuse/human trafficking, trauma-informed care, and administration of epinephrine.
- Districts will have to annually adopt these recommendations or state how they deviate from them. The district would maintain this information at the district level. For the most part, the recommendation for frequency is to include it in the job descriptions of school staff or provide it annually.
- Clearinghouse (PDF)
- TEC 21.4514 and the districts from TEC 21.4515
- For more information TEA SBEC Continuing Education and Training Clearinghouse website
School Board of Trustee Training
The board of trustees of an independent school district is a corporate body that has the exclusive power and duty to oversee the district management and evaluate the performance of its superintendent. All powers and duties not specifically delegated by state law to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) or State Board of Education (SBOE) are reserved for the trustees.
Texas Education Code, Chapter 11, Subchapter D defines the powers and duties of an independent school district board of trustees.
The Framework for School Board Development outlines the vision and goals, systems and processes, progress and accountability, advocacy and engagement, and synergy and teamwork needed to provide local educational programs and services that will promote excellence in student academic achievement. Initially adopted in January 1996, the framework was revised by the SBOE in November 2020.
Texas Education Code, §11.159, requires the SBOE to provide a course of training for independent school district boards of trustees.
School Board Training Requirements
Continuing education requirements for independent school board trustees are established in Texas Education Code, §11.159, Texas Administrative Code §61.1 and Texas Government Code, §§ 551.005, 552.012, and 2054.5191. This table provides a summary of these requirements. Use the links in the Eligible Provider(s) column to find a provider.
Upcoming Safety Conferences
2022 Texas School Safety Center- Keeping School Safety A Priority: A Collaborative Approach
- June 19 - 23, 2022
- Registration: $400
- San Antonio Marriott River Center
- Register Here
9th-Annual TASRO Safe Schools Conference
- June 27, 2022
- Hilton Palacio del Rio, 200 South Alamo Street, San Antonio, TX 78205-3213
- Register Here
2022 National School Safety Conference
- July 25 - 29, 2022
- Registration: $600
- Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate
Crime Stoppers Annual Conference
- October 19-21, 2022
- Abilene Convention Center
- Register Here
Resources for Educators and Parents in Response to the Robb Elementary School Shooting
In response to the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the National Child
Traumatic Stress Network has developed resources to help children, families, educators,
and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, acknowledge their feelings,
and find ways to cope together. See available resource links below.
- Talking to Children About the Shooting
- Helping Youth after Community Trauma: Tips for Educators
- How to Talk to Youth About Scary Events
- Talking to Teens about Violence
- Talking to Students About Violence
- Coping after Mass Violence (For Adults)
- For Teens: Coping After Mass Violence
- Helping School-Age Children with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Helping Teens with Traumatic Grief: Tips for Caregivers
- Guiding Adults in Talking to Children about Death and Attending Services
- After a Crisis: Helping Young Children Heal
- Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
- Once I Was Very Very Scared
- After The Injury | Helping parents help their kids recover
- Patient Centered Care and Trauma Informed Care for Pediatric Patients
- Pause-Reset-Nourish (PRN)* to Promote Wellbeing: Use as Needed to Care for Your Wellness!
Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S) Field Operations Guide
Providing Psychological First Aid: Principals and Administrators
National Mass Violence and Victimization Resource Center
Safety & Security Program Coordinator
Email: laevening.woodard@region10.org
Website: www.region10.org
Location: 400 E Spring Valley Rd, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1556