TIVA SSSI August, 2023
August, 2023
2023-2024 School Year | Welcome Back!
About Us
The Title IV-A School Safety and Mental Health State Initiative works in collaboration with TEA and ESC 14 to support and provide technical assistance to ESCs and LEAs in implementing Title IV, Part A program requirements. The priority content area for the State Initiative is Safe and Healthy Students. The contents of the newsletter fall within authorized TIVA topics.
Other State Initiative activities Include:
Providing Trainings to Build Capacity at ESCs
Identifying and Creating Resources, Trainings, and other Materials
Developing a Statewide Network of ESC School Safety Specialists who provide information to LEAs
TIVA Federal Program | Dates | Deadlines
- 2022-2023 ESSA Compliance Reports - Compliance reports are due via eGrants by September 29, 2023
- 2023-2024 ESSA Program Monitoring Random Validations
- 2023-2024 Random Validations Statewide Virtual Training - September 26, 2023, from 9:30 am - 11:30 am
- Due September 29, 2023
- Unsafe School Choice Option Report
- ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports
- Rural and Low-Income Schools Report
- Guidance: ESSA Consolidated Compliance Reports Resources & TEA Unsafe School Choice Option Guidance Handbook
Texas Education Legislation
What school safety and mental health legislation was passed in the 88th Session?
The biggest impact to schools this summer was the 88th legislative session! The State Initiative has tracked new laws for school safety and mental health that fall into Title IV, Part A authorized topics and is the majority of this month's newsletter. Districts should be aware not only of state mandates, but how those statewide mandates impact the use of Title IV, Part A funds. It is not an allowable use of funds to use federal dollars to meet statewide requirements. Title IV, Part A funds should be used to provide enrichment activities that go above and beyond the state requirements in the areas of Well-Rounded Education, Safe and Healthy Students, and Effective Use of Technology. The area of piority for the State Initiative is in the area of Safe and Healthy Students.
Important: Please click below to preview the entire document and discover how new law relates to your scope of work.
School Safety
Due Dates:
September 1 - LEA Board Resolution for Armed Security Officer Good Exception passed, if applicable
September 15 - DAR submitted to TxSSC. Districts should complete their next safety audit within the safety cycle of 8/2023-2026.
Intruder Detection Audits
TEA School Safety Review Teams shall annually conduct on-site intruder detection audits of campuses:
using documentation developed by TEA and TxSSC
notify the superintendent no later than the 7th day before the date of a scheduled audit,
notify superintendent and school safety and security committee of the results
include recommendations and required corrective actions to address any identified deficiencies in campus security.
Mandatory School Drills + Active Threat Exercises
The proposed amendments will reorganize definitions and provide clarifications in §103.1209 and add requirements for certain active threat exercises in §103.1211. The effective date for these rules are September 19, 2023. See here for the proposed changes.
TASB Model Student Code of Conduct and Model Student Handbook now available in the Policy Online® Governance and Management Library. (TASB login required).
HB 3 Armed Security Officer Requirement
House Bill 3 (HB 3), effective September 1, 2023, adds new TEC 37.0814. This new law requires each school board to determine the appropriate number of armed security officers for each district campus and, absent a good cause exception, ensure at least one armed security officer–specifically, a commissioned peace officer–is present during regular school hours at each campus. Details are outlined in images below.
Good Cause Exemption
Board Resolution example at end of TASB Document
Employment | Training
SSSP Behavioral Threat Assessment
Click images for new laws regarding parent notification, staff confidentiality, records retention, and procedural requirements.
Resources to consider:
On TxSSC Site - https://txssc.txstate.edu/tools/srm-toolkit/staging-transport under STEP 2 Classroom Evacuation Students and Staff With Disabilities and Other Functional and Access Needs
- https://training.fema.gov/programs/emischool/el361toolkit/addressingspecialneeds.htm
- https://www.cdc.gov/childrenindisasters/children-with-special-healthcare-needs.html
- https://www.nfpa.org/-/media/Files/News-and-Research/Fire-statistics-and-reports/Fact-sheets/evacstudentdisabilities.ashx
- https://rems.ed.gov/docs/Emergency%20Preparedness%20for%20Students%20With%20Disabilities%20Tips%20and%20Checklist.pdf
- SchoolSafety.gov Offers ‘Tools to Get Started’ to Create a Comprehensive School Safety Program
- K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit - (CISA) School Safety Security Taskforce + U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center developed the K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit. The toolkit offers strategies and guidance that K-12 schools and school districts can use to enhance safety reporting programs and encourage witness reporting.
Be Prepared! Do You Know What to Do?
Campus Safety Tabletop Exercise - Armed Robber Barricaded in Home Adjacent to School
TEA School Safety Standards and Funding/Grants
Districts that do not apply for the School Safety Standards Formula Grant or report themselves as 100% compliant with safety standards will not be eligible for Cycle 1 of the School Safety Facilities Grant (September 2023). TIVA SSSI Safety Grant Webpage updated! School Safety Standards Checklist. Chapter 61 Commissioner’s Rules Concerning School Facilities (Adopted May 31, 2023). For Questions regarding Standards, grant, rule, and uses of funds contact Dr. Brooks Straub (SafeSchools@tea.texas.gov).
TEA School Safety Standards Webinar
Below are the links to the recorded webinar and the FAQ document. During the webinar there was a question that was asked about utilizing staff personally owned cell phones for the Silent Panic Alert Technology and our guidance was that it would not meet the standard. Since then, we have made an adjustment to that guidance that will now allow for personally owned cell phones to be utilized and to meet the standard, but with some limitations. Please see the updated guidance below.
- Updated SPAT Guidance for Personal Cell Phones: Question: Can you have a cell phone based SPAT system that utilizes personally owned cell phones?
- Updated Answer: Installation on personal devices could possibly constitute usage on a district-controlled device if installation were accompanied by policies controlling consistent availability and accessibility of those devices to satisfy SPAT rule requirements.
- Webinar Resources
School Health | Mental Health
Due Dates:
- August 30, 2023 - School Health Survey
- 2023-24 Deadline will be May 24, 2024.
- Deadline for Physical fitness assessment for 23-24 will be June 14, 2024
- Final Submission for 23-24 off-campus physical activity program approval requests is January 31, 2024. Curriculum Request Form.
Fentanyl Awareness | Substance Use
- The Governor will designate Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week
- The SHAC must recommend curriculum on the dangers of opioids, including fentanyl.
- Districts must provide annual instruction on fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students grades 6-12.
- Toolkits to assist school systems with educating their schools and communities on the growing dangers of this lethal opioid.
- Student Awareness Materials
- Say What! Escape the Vape
- Vaping and E-Cigarettes: A Toolkit for Working with Youth
- Substance Use Prevention Communications Toolkit for Youth 12-18
- Dead on Arrival - Opioid Fentanyl Awareness
- Nurse training by UTHSC San Antonio - Free 2.0 nursing contact hours. A Harm Reduction Approach to Overdose Prevention
Cyberbullying Prevention - District counselors have had questions regarding the Saturn app an education/scheduling/social media app for students. We are providing you a review of the app from bark. It is possible that the messaging feature of the app could be used to cyberbully and harass other students or to use it to post inappropriate content. It is recommended that schools be aware of the potential dangers of student use.
DFPS/CPS Mandatory Reporting - A new training course on how to recognize and report child abuse or neglect is now live on the DFPS training site. It's designed for Texas professionals, including educators, medical professionals, and child care providers, and provides valuable information that will assist them in deciding whether to make a report to the Texas Abuse Hotline.
Registration: Follow the link to the course, enter your name and e-mail address and begin the course. A certificate is provided upon completion.
Suicide Prevention
- National Suicide prevention Week | September 10-16, 2023
- ED, HHS Take Additional Actions to Address Mental Health Needs of Students and Make Communities Safer
Anxiety and Depression
- Family and Caregiver Access to Resources on Anxiety and Depression in Children and Youth — Webinar | Wednesday, July 19, 2023 6 – 7 p.m. ET
- The Child Mind Institute created a resource page covering a variety of topics related to anxiety in kids. Explore the anxiety resources page for topics including parenting anxious kids, anxiety in schools, specific phobias, and information on different types of anxiety.
Tobacco + Vaping Prevention
- Youth Vaping Prevention and Resources to Quit - Truth Initiative and Kaiser Permanente in collaboration with the American Heart Association launched Vaping: Know the Truth, a free digital vaping prevention curriculum. In addition to encouraging students to live vape-free lives, this self-led interactive curriculum offers resources to help young people who are currently using e-cigarettes to quit through a text message youth quit vaping program called This is Quitting.
- Resources for Tobacco-Free and Vaping-Free Schools - Alliance for a Healthier Generation published Free resources include a tobacco-free district model policy, an integrative assessment, and tools to help create an action plan to track progress, download data reports, and more.
Required Vaccines K-12
- DSHS provides information on required vaccines for students
- Tool to help parents keep track of vaccination records for those that have opted in, DSHS Texas Immunization Registry
School Counselor Roles and Responsibilities
The 80% rule became effective date of May 22: Information on the adopted rule 61.1073 (TEC § 33.006h) will be available at the commissioner adopted rule page and at the Texas Administrative Code Currently in Effect webpage.
Have a Question? We can help!
Q: Can the Safety Allotment Funds or 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant funds be used to pay stipends for those staff members that are concealed carry?
A: Yes, the School Safety Allotment allows for the employing of security for the district. The 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant could be use for this purpose but only after the district has met the school safety requirements and has amended their application to certify compliance within Section B of the grant application. For the purpose of the grant application, to be “in compliance” means that you have identified all required work needed to meet the standard, has signed vendor contracts, and has allocated the necessary funds to cover the work needed. We do advise districts to consider additional costs that may arise while the work is being performed and should plan accordingly.
Q: Is there any written guidance/resources for evacuation protocols of students with mobility impairments, as required in the EOP?
A: HB 3 will require TEA to establish guidelines for multihazard EOP provisions to ensure the safety of students and district personnel with disabilities or impairments during and disaster or an emergency situation, in consultation with TxSSC, ESCs, Educators who work with disabilities or impairments and Advocacy groups. Districts must follow the established guidelines by TEA. Although, this has not taken place yet, so I recommend the district first note the disabilities on each campus and assign district personnel to assist in an emergency. They should also plan for the fact that a student can show up tomorrow with a need that is currently not on campus. I also agree that they should consult their local first responders for recommendations. Districts are required to plan for the needs of special needs students in their EOPs - TEC 37.108 (f)(4) - provisions for ensuring that students and district personnel with disabilities are provided equal access to safety during a disaster or emergency situation. All students and staff should be evacuated together. An integrated evacuation ensures that all students and staff will have equal access to emergency evacuation procedures.
Conferences + Trainings
Webinar: The Role of Students in School Safety Efforts Webinar on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET. This Webinar will focus on the role that K-12 students play in preventing, protecting the school community from, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!
USDE Readiness and Emergecy Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center Webinar. 12-1 pm This Webinar will focus on the role that K-12 students play in preventing, protecting the school community from, mitigating, responding to, and recovering from emergencies.Register on the REMS TA Center Website to participate in the Webinar!
School Safety Webinar: Join School Safety Clearinghouse on Thursday, August 17 at 2:00 pm for a back-to-school webinar on federal school safety training, technical assistance, and resources available to kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools and school districts. The session will specifically focus on information related to school safety, school climate, and student mental health supports. Registration. Webex (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event)
Light the Way - End Human Trafficking 2023 Summit | August 23-25 | Dallas | Summit Website
2023 Fall ACET (Association for Compensatory Educators of Tx) | October 25-27 | Omni Mandalay Hotel @ Las Colinas
2023 National Summit on K-12 School Safety and Security on November 1-2, 2023. Registration.
Lone Star State School Counselor Association (LSSSCA) Annual conference | October 22-24 | Embassy Suites Dallas Frisco Hotel Convention Centern | conference webpage.