The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposed an update to its school safety standards that would target three key areas: facility, operating, and maintenance requirements.
The proposed rule would require that all facilities have access points that are secured by design, maintained to operate as intended, and appropriately monitored.
Based on these new changes, school districts will be able to apply for grants from TEA over the next two years. These will be based on pupil count with districts receiving at least $200,000.
The public will be able to weigh in on these proposed changes from November 11 through December 12, and if adopted, the rules will go into effect within two days of submission to the Texas registrar.
Here is a breakdown:
Exterior doors, exterior classroom doors, and portable doors
• All doors are to remain closed, latched and locked, and allow for emergency exit from the inside while remaining locked.
• Roof doors should remain closed and locked when not in use.
• Doors can be unlocked during the instructional day if they are actively monitored or within a secured area.
Windowed doors
• Doors on the ground level or windows that are adjacent to or near a door and are large enough to allow someone to enter if broken must be reinforced with entry-resistant film unless within a secured area.
Panic alert system
• All schools must have a panic alert system that can be manually triggered by campus staff. When set off, the system would immediately call 911 with a location of where the alert was triggered, alert administrators who can also direct law enforcement, and can simultaneously send an alert to all staff.
Other facility components
• All exterior doors must be numbered.
• Radio signal repeaters must be placed where needed.
• Schools must ensure there is an exterior secure master key lock box.
Schools will also be required to update their operations and maintenance protocols.