December Safety Newsletter
KEEPING YOU IN THE KNOW
Legal Disclaimer
NEW Region 10 Session Offering!
The School Safety Blueprint Training offers practical strategies for dealing with dangerous situations, reducing risks associated with targeted school violence, and meeting the mental health needs of students. This one-day interactive workshop will guide participants navigating the complex web of federal and state laws that apply in response to dangerous situations created by students with disabilities and students who may be suspected of having a disability, as well as legally defensible strategies for responding to victims of school violence, and practical guidance for serving students who may engage in targeted violence.
Topics covered include:
- District liability and personal liability in the context of student violence
- Threat assessment teams and the duty to warn
- Confidentiality
- Disciplinary options & alternatives to discipline under IDEA
- Residential treatment centers & continuum of placement
- Expedited hearings
- Law enforcement and the community
- Risk management when threats are identified
Target Audience: Texas school leaders including administrators, counselors and mental health professionals, members of the board of trustees, and School Resource Officers (SROs).
One resource book per campus or central office will be provided.
SSSP Data Reporting Instrument Questions and Tool
2023-2024 School Year SSSP Data Collection Questions for 2024
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.
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.
TEA FAQ's
Student Discipline
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).
Substance Misuse Prevention
Mental and Behavioral Health - Fentanyl Awareness & Prevention
- Fentanyl Awareness Resources- Curated for School
- TEA Fentanyl Response Communications Toolkit
- Texas HHSC: Fighting Fentanyl
- TAA - Implementation of Fentanyl-Related Legislation, released September 21, 2023
- HHSC Fighting Fentanyl
- Student Awareness Materials
- Substance Use Prevention Communications Toolkit for Youth 12-18
- Dead on Arrival - Opioid Fentanyl Awareness
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 and Well-Being Resources
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
Centro de Recursos de Salud Mental en Español
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
School Safety Resources
Just Released! TEA Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness & Human Trafficking Webinar Series
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.
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
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.
School Safety Trainings
Safety & Security Roundtable Series
The Safety & Security Roundtable Series are developed to bring District Leadership, School Safety & Security Professionals, School Based Law Enforcement and school district stakeholders together to keep our LEAs informed of training requirements, legislative updates and trends affecting school safety. The goals of the roundtables are to:
- Explore critical safety issues facing schools
- Identify potential threats, risks or trends
- Examine potential solutions
- Information Sharing
- Collaborate with local, county & state partnerships
- Improve the climate of school safety
Mandatory School Drills and Active Threat Exercises
January 18, 2024
9am-11am
Region 10 ESC
400 E Spring Valley Rd
Richardson, TX 75081
This roundtable will focus on requirements for Texas Administrative Code 103.1209: Mandatory School Drills, Texas Administrative Code 103.1211: Active Threat Exercises and Establishing a Drill Timetable.