LEA: TIVA SSSI November, 2023
ESC Newsletter
November 2023
T4PA Federal Programs
All LEAs that received Fiscal Year 2022 and/or 2023 Title IV, Part A, Subpart 1, program funds are required to report data in the Federal Compliance Division (FPC) WorkApp Smartsheet, even if 100% of the LEA’s Title IV, Part A, allocation was used for REAP and/or Funding Transferability option(s).
LEA Notification - Watch List 1 Persistently Dangerous Schools
On November 9 Superintendents that have a campus(es) on Watch List 1, Watch List 2 or Persistently Dangerous Schools were notified by TEA in an email.
- November 30, 2023 – Deadline to appeal identification
- December 11, 2023 – Watch list public posting on FPC website
Contact ESSAsupport@TEA.Texas.gov for questions related to this process.
T4PA LEA Special Data Collection
LEA Special Data Collection Q&A Session 2 | Nov 29, 2023 at 1:00 PM |Zoom Registration
The Q&A session will be an open forum for participants to submit questions limited to the Title IV, Part A LEA Special Data Collection Smartsheet WorkApp, Handbook, data reporting phase, submission requirements, and resources. The Q&A session will not be recorded.
Special Data Collection Due December 1, 2023
Use this link to access WorkApp to submit the Title IV, Part A Special Data Collection..
Random Validation for Federal Programs
Phase 2 Programs - Districts notified by email November 28, 2023.
- Private School Equitable Services (PNP); and
- Unsafe School Choice Option (USCO)
School Safety Compliance
SSSP Data Reporting Instrument Questions and Tool
As required by Texas Education Code §37.115(k), Safe and Supportive School Program (SSSP) teams are required to report their annual activities by campus to the TEA. This instrument is the method that is currently being used by the TEA to collect the required data for each campus. SSSP teams are responsible for following the policies and procedures established by their LEA for collecting and maintaining documentation of reported threats, threat assessments conducted, and outcomes of each threat assessment for each campus served by the team.
- SSSP Data Collection Tool will assist LEAs in tracking the required information.
Commissioner's Rules Concerning Safe Schools
TAA released October 12 concerning Mandatory School Drills and Active Threat Exercises
The adopted amendment to §103.1209 reorganizes definitions to distinguish between general terms, terms defining levels of exercises, and terms defining types of drills. The changes ensure distinction between events that include persons role-playing as active aggressors and circumstances designed to train for, assess, practice, and improve incident mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery in a risk-free environment. The adopted amendment to §103.1211 further outlines the requirements a school district must meet if it elects to conduct active threat exercises.
These amendments focus on preparedness while simultaneously ensuring drills conducted are developmentally appropriate. Administrators should adjust practices to ensure a proper balance between safety and support. The amended rulemaking was effective October 10, 2023.
Texas School Safety Center Survey
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) would appreciate 5 to 10 minutes of your time to gather information about your school safety training, resource, and service needs and preferences.
Access the survey here. The survey is open through December 10, 2023.
CTE Facility Safety and Security Research
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) and the Texas State University Department of Agricultural Sciences are conducting a research study to understand the unique safety and security needs of CTE facilities across Texas. As a CTE stakeholder, your input is greatly appreciated to help TxSSC develop more appropriate and relevant safety and security guidance to meet these unique needs. An email was sent from txssc-ir@txstate.edu to all middle and high school principals in Texas; it includes a link to a survey along with information about the study itself. The aim is to receive only one response per school. For more information, please contact the study’s Principal Investigator, Elizabeth Ekren, PhD, at syd14@txstate.edu or the Co-Investigator, Rachel Hall, at rhall12@txstate.edu.
School Safety Funding
SAFE GRANT - CYCLE 1
ANNOUNCEMENT: SAFE, Cycle 1 Errata Notice #1 and Allocations Update
TEA has issued an errata for the 2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Cycle 1 Grant; the errata highlights the following changes:
- The due date of eGrants application changed to January 8, 2024 (was previously November 20, 2023).
- Total funds available for project were updated to be $821,575,503.00 (was previously ($800,000,000.00) to align with allocations to eligible LEAs.
- Formatting updates to the footer of the program guidelines.
Dates have also been updated on TEA's Grant Opportunities page to reflect this errata notice. To view the errata, please visit TEA's Grant Opportunities page and search for the "2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement Grant (SAFE) Cycle 1 " program to view a PDF of the issued errata.
SAFE Grant Cycle 1 Allocations are Posted
Allocations for eligible LEAs for the 2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant, Cycle 1 have been posted on the TEA Grant Opportunities page. You can also view and access the allocation table here. For question related to allocations, please contact TEA's Office of School Safety at SafeSchools@tea.texas.gov.
2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant, Cycle 1 eGrant Application
For eligible LEAs who received an allocation for this program, please login into eGrants via TEAL to complete the required application to receive a Notice of Grant Award. If you have any questions regarding the grant process, or require technical assistance, please contact Nick Davis (nick.davis@tea.texas.gov).
SAFE GRANT - CYCLE 2
Application will be available Spring 2024.
Substance Misuse Prevention
Mental and Behavioral Health - Fentanyl Awareness & Prevention
Teens and Vaping
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Tobacco Education Resource Library shared an interview with Dr. Susan Walley, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Tobacco Control and expert in the prevention of youth tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. Topics include misperceptions of e-cigarettes, who to reach out to help quit nicotine use, and other advice. Teachers can use this interview and other lesson plan resources as activities in their classroom.
Truth Initiative teams up with actor and comedian, Chris Parnell to illustrate how vaping nicotine increases symptoms of depression and anxiety and interfere with sleep through informational videos. The information speaks to youth to engage in conversation and share tools to help encourage smoking cessation.
Mental Health + Well-Being
988 Partner Toolkit
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration released the 988 Partner Toolkit, offering a variety of awareness and educational materials to promote awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Hotline. The materials can also be adapted to meet the needs of specific audiences.
School Mental Health Texas Database
Select an ESC to view details for an ESC, county, or LEA. To compare up to three locations, select the blue + icon on the right of the location card. If you are unsure which ESC Region your county or LEA is in, please refer to TEA's School District Locator tool.
Mental Health Resources in Spanish
Free Online Courses related to School Mental Health
Enhance your knowledge and skills! View Courses
Accessible Mental Healthcare Services for Students
Accessible mental healthcare services are becoming available to every Texas public school.
Many children are struggling with mental health concerns and many parents have limited access to mental health assessment and treatment services. The Texas Legislature has ensured that every Texas public school has an opportunity to enroll in Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine (TCHATT) at no cost to the school or parent. Learn More
Therapies to Help Anxious and Depressed Kids - Child Mind
We’re all concerned about the sharp rise in the number of children who are anxious or depressed. But the good news is that there are specialized therapies that can help kids who are struggling emotionally. They’re all based on cognitive behavior therapy, and while they present a confusing array of acronyms — ACT, DBT, SPACE, BA, MI, IPT — they’ve all been shown to be effective in combatting anxiety or depression. For a quick guide to all theses therapies and acronyms, click here.
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Young Immigrants
The Annie E. Casey Foundation | Nov 21 1-2 pm | Register
2023 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health
Tuesday, Dec 5, 2023, 08:00 AM
New Orleans, LA, USA
Healthy Relationships
Crime Stoppers! Preventative Education for Educators and Students
Educator Bullying Training
- Contact your regional Education Service Center.
- The T4PA State Initiative is offering free EduHero Bullying Prevention online courses to districts who do not currently have access to the EduHero. Contact t4sssi@esc14.net for more information.
- NEW TxSSC Virtual Bullying and Cyberbullying Training
Restorative Practices for Educators
The Texas School Safety Center is hosting the Restorative Practices for Educators training in various locations around Texas. Restorative practices include strategies for effective communication, establishing healthy boundaries, taking responsibility, solving conflict, healing when harm has occurred, and creating accountability for self and others. In this four-hour session, participants will learn about restorative practices. Participants discuss why restorative practices are a proactive and reactive tool campuses should have in their intervention toolbox. Participants learn how to facilitate the restorative processes and implement foundational structures. Presenters discuss key components for data collection and analysis to track program effectiveness.
PAX Good Behavior Game
Free training to those working with children or families in both in and out-of-school settings. The PAX Good Behavior Game provides educators with evidence-based strategies to help build children’s self-regulation skills. These skills can improve classroom behavior, support academics, and reduce opioid misuse. To learn more and register for a training, visit the PAX Good Behavior Game webpage.
Internet Safety
Resources for Parents, Educators & Communities
Texas School Safety Center Current Online Behavioral Trends-Lunch and Learn
Start with Hello
Personal + Community Safety
Just Released! TEA Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness & Human Trafficking Webinar Series
November 17 | Child Abuse and Human Trafficking Legislative Updates | Registration Zoom Link
Educators are in a unique position to recognize, report and help to prevent child abuse and human trafficking. Educators are vital in recognizing the warning signs of abused or neglected students and guiding potential victims to available resources and support. This webinar series is a collaboration of state and regional agencies to assist and support school leaders with fulfilling their mandated duties and requirements concerning child abuse and neglect and promoting the well-being and safety of all Texas school students. All Zoom meetings will be held from 10:30-11:30 am. They are open to all ESCs, Districts, and Community Partners. Click Here for Registration and/or Print for Distribution.
Trauma-Informed School Nursing
Trauma-informed schools provide students, families, and staff with an environment attuned to the prevalence of trauma. The "Trauma-Informed Care in School Nursing" session, initially presented at Virtual National Association of School Nurses Conference in 2022, is now available in the NASN Learning Center to equip school nurses with skills, knowledge, and tools to identify traumatic stress reactions, reduce the occurrence of new trauma or re-traumatization, and provide families and staff with available information and resources, all while prioritizing nurse well-being.
First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST)
The American Red Cross offers the FAST course at no charge to high school students. This course teaches participants to prepare for bleeding emergencies, communication with emergency dispatchers, and caring for people with life-threatening bleeding. Become a Red Cross training provider to provide the FAST course to students by registering your school.
Winter Weather Preparedness 101: Are You Ready?
Taking the following precautions will help you and your campus community stay safe during inclement winter weather. Campus Safety Article
Interpretation Clarification on School Suspension - TEC 37.005
The principal or other appropriate administrator may suspend a student who engages in conduct identified in the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 (Student Code of Conduct) as conduct for which a student may be suspended.
- A suspension under this section may not exceed three school days.
Technical Resources
- PEIMS Discipline Data - Q&A
- New PEIMS Info - Table 165 Discipline Action Codes - Marihuana, E-Cig, Controlled Substance
- PEIMS Discipline Data - Disciplinary Action Reason Codes and Definitions
- PEIMS Discipline Data - Chart for Determining Mandatory and Discretionary DAEP Placements and Expulsions
Discipline Flowchart for Students Identified with or Suspected to Have a Disability Under IDEA
Alternative Education Program Student Transition Plan
Not later than five instructional days after the date of a student's release from an alternative education program (AEP), the campus administrator shall coordinate the student's transition to a regular classroom. The coordination must include assistance and recommendations from the required transition team (§37.023, Education Code).
Texas Education Legislation Guidance
88th Special Session Update
House Bill 2
Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including the establishment of a school safety grant program and a school safety plan implementation grant program, and the allocation of certain constitutional transfers of money to the state school safety fund, the economic stabilization fund, and the state highway fund. Legiscan Text.Senate Bill 2
School Funding bill. Legiscan Text.