Background and Purpose

On October 27, 2022, Governor Abbott, Lt. Governor Patrick, Speaker Phelan, and House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committee Chairs announced $400 million in funding to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to assist school districts in replacing or upgrading doors, windows, fencing, communications, and other safety measures. 

The purpose of the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant is to assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in meeting the new school safety standards and to include other security-related costs like metal detectors, cameras, and monitoring tools such as those allowed under the following: the school safety allotment, Senate Bill 500 2019-2021 School Safety and Security Grant, and the Silent Panic Alert Technology (SPAT) grant. The purpose of these funds is to allow LEAs to implement the new safety standards application to Chapter 61, Sub-chapter CC, 61.1031 of Commissioner's Rules . 

REFERENCE: TEA School Safety Related Grant Programs

Important Deadlines and Milestones

The timeline for the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant is as follows:

a. Application Availability Date - 01/03/2023

b. Application Due Date - 08/01/2023

c. LEAs can provisionally certify compliance by having contractor(s) acquired and final implementation timeline provided by contractor(s) - August 31, 2023. (Certification occurs when grant applicants check the box within the application that they agree to only use these funds for the stated allowable costs within the grant.)

d. All LEAs required to be fully compliant with Minimum Standards for School Facilities - August 31, 2024 

e. Last Amendment Due Date - 01/30/2025

f. Revised Final Expenditure Report - 07/31/2025

g. Final Expenditure Report - 0-7/31/2025  


*Districts that do not apply for the 20222-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant will NOT be eligible for Cycle 1 of the SB 30 2023-2025 School Facilities Grant (released in September 2023). 

 REFERENCE: TEA School Safety Standards and the School Facilities Grant July 24, 2023

TEA Program Requirements

See the General and Fiscal Guidelines for further guidance on TEA Program Requirements. 

Program Requirements

In addition to the statutory requirements, TEA has established the following program requirements. The applicant must comply with each of these requirements in the application to be considered for funding: 

1. The LEA must provide assurance that it will first expend all of its SB 500 School Safety and Security Grant (school hardening funds) before expending grant funds.  

a. To be considered as expending all of your 2019-2021 School Safety and             Security (SB500/School Hardening) grant funds, your LEA must have 15% or        less of your grant award remaining. 

REFERENCE: 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant Errata #1 (February 2, 2023)  

2. The LEA must expend these grant funds to meet minimum compliance to implement the new safety standards applicable to Chapter 61, Sub-chapter CC, 61.031 of Commissioner's Rules. 

3. The LEA must comply with all intruder detection audit requirements. 

4. Only costs for the purchase and installation of security-related activities detailed in the Allowable Activities section below will be allowed to be charged to the grant. 

5. These grant funds will be monitored for programmatic and fiscal compliance during the grant period, and potentially post-grant period. 

REFERENCE: 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant Program Guidelines 

Allowable Uses of Funds to Meet Minimum Compliance with Safety Standards Rule

Refer to the Budgeting Costs Guidance Handbook on the Grant Administration Division’s Grant Resources page for general guidance on allowable activities and use of funds.

Allowable activities and use of funds for this grant may include but are not limited to the following:

General Allowable Activities and Use of Funds

Initially, grant funds may only be expended to meet minimum compliance to implement the new safety standards applicable to Chapter 61, Sub-chapter CC, 61.031 of Commissioner's Rules. The allowable activities listed below are activities that could be implemented to become compliant with the new safety standards rule. Applicants are not required to implement every allowable activity listed below, as the needs and situations of applicants will vary and determine the appropriate method to become compliant.

REFERENCE:  2023-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant Allowable Costs

Fencing - NOT REQUIRED BUT OPTIONAL

a. Purchase of fencing:

b. Emergency egress gates;

c. Anti-scaling devices;

d. Fencing; and

e. Fence posts

f. Upgrade pre-existing fencing to become compliant with safety    standards rule

g. Increasing the height of pre-existing fence to meet the height     requirement of the safety standards rule; and

h. Modification of other pre-existing fencing components to bring     fence(s) up to standard

Exterior Doors | Glass Exterior Doors

a. Purchasing of door reinforcement components: 

b. Door;

c. Mechanical door auto-closer;

d. Mechanical door lock;

e. Emergency egress push bar;

f. Door frame;

g. Center mullion and

h. Master key rekeying on mechanical doors


Glass Exterior Doors Not Within a Secured Area

a. Purchase of forced-entry resistant film: and

b. Installation materials.

Ground Level Exterior Windows

a. For windows adjacent to or near an exterior door to become compliant:

b. Purchase of forced-entry resistant film and installation materials;

c. In the case that the window frame itself is not removable and the frame and window must be upgraded to comply with the minimum safety standards:

d. Purchase of forced-entry window;

e. Window frame; and 

F. Installation materials.

Silent Panic Alert Technology

a. Purchase and installation of silent panic alert technology.

b. Maintenance/service contracts for silent panic alert technology systems.

c. Either solely or in combination with other funds, to purchase comprehensive school safety software systems that include, but not limited to, visitor screening, safety drills, response to emergencies, and reunification but only if the silent panic alert technology is a primary component of the comprehensive system.

d. LEA personnel costs are only associated with the installation of silent panic alert technologies.

e. Lease purchase of silent panic alert technologies if completely paid within the grant period.

Other Required Components

a. Purchase and installation of equipment which allows emergency responder two-way radios to function within most portions of the building(s).

b. Exterior door numbering

c. Purchasing alpha-numerical characters that comply with the International Fire Code, §505; and

d. Installation materials.

e. Exterior secure master key lock box with two lock access and installation materials.

f. Asbestos remediation as needed related to the replacement of door frames or window frames to be compliant with the school safety standards.

Installation of Components

Installation of the Aforementioned Components

a. Contracted installation; and

b. Payroll for LEA maintenance or operations staff installation.

Other Allowable Items (After Minimal Compliance with School Safety Standards Rule has been Met)

Before expending grant funds on the below allowable items, the applicant will amend the application before expending grant funds for other allowable activities after certifying they meet minimal compliance with the school safety standards rule, to include identifying contracted vendor(s) designated to provide the required work to implement the standards.

1. The purchase and maintenance of:

a. security cameras or other security equipment; and

b. technology, including communications systems or devices, that facilitates communication and information sharing between students, school personnel, and first responders in an emergency;

2. Providing security for the district, including:

a. employing school district peace officers, private security officers, and school marshals; and

b. collaborating with local law enforcement agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the district;

3. School safety and security training and planning, including:

a. active shooter and emergency response training;

b. prevention and treatment programs relating to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and

c. the prevention, identification, and management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based, effective prevention practices and including:

i. providing licensed counselors, social workers, and individuals trained in restorative discipline and restorative justice practices;

ii. providing mental health personnel and support;

iii. providing behavioral health services;

iv. establishing threat reporting systems; and

v. developing and implementing programs focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant instruction, and providing mental health support; and

4. Providing programs related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

5. Metal Detectors

6. Two-way radio systems

7. Electronic door-locking systems

8. Vestibule(s)  (see 2022-2025 School Safety Standards  Formula Grant Errata #1 (February 2, 2023) for details)

REFERENCE: 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula  Grant Program Guidelines

Unallowable Uses of Funds

Unallowable Activities and Use of Funds 

Refer to the Budgeting Costs Guidance Handbook on the Grant Administration Division’s Grant Resources page for general guidance on unallowable costs. 

In addition, unallowable activities and use of funds for this grant may include but are not limited to the following:

REFERENCE: 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Grant Program Guidelines

Minimum Required Standards for School Facilities

Resources

TEA Grant Contact Information

Please see the below contacts for questions regarding various components of 2023-2025 School Safety Standards Grant program: 

Grant Contact 

Safety Standards and Program Contact 

Funding contact

(Lisa.gonzales@tea.texas.gov)  Phone: (512) 463-8525 

REFERENCE: 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant Program Guidelines