Authorizing Legislation 

This grant program is authorized by Senate Bill 30, Section 4.02 of the 88th Legislative Session.

Purpose of Program

The purpose of this project is to allow LEAs who have certified they are NOT in compliance, to implement the adopted school safety standards applicable to Chapter 61. Sub-chapter CC. Commissioner's Rules Concerning School Facilities.  Funds will assist LEAs who have applied for the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant and have certified that they are NOT in compliance with the adopted school safety standards in Section B of the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant application in meeting the adopted school safety standards.

REFERENCES: 

• TEA | To the Administrator Addressed (TAA): Extension of Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Needs Assessment

• 2023–2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Cycle 1

• TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Program Guidelines

• TEA | TAA Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant

Eligible Applicants 

See the General and Fiscal Guidelines, Eligibility To Apply for LOIs. 

LEAs who have applied for the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant, and have certified that they are NOT in compliance with the adopted school safety standards in Section B of the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant application are eligible applicants for this grant program. An LEA meeting the above requirement, and the enrollment criteria below are eligible to apply for this grant program: 

• Public school districts and charter schools with a reported enrollment of at least one student from the October 2021 PEIMS fall snapshot submission will be eligible for funding. 

• Any new charter school opening after September 21, 2023 (the date of grant availability) will be ineligible for funding throughout the life of the grant. 

• Private schools are not eligible recipients for funding. 

Selection of Applicants for Funding 

Applicants will be selected and awarded based on data submitted in the Qualtrics needs assessment. Dependent on the data submitted through the Needs Assessment survey, analysis of statewide average costs will be extrapolated, giving cost values for statewide implementation based on the mean and standard deviation.

Shared Services Arrangements (SSAs) 

See the General and Fiscal Guidelines, Eligibility To Apply for LOIs. 

Shared services arrangements (SSAs) are allowed; however, fiscal agents may not claim any administrative costs. 

TEA Program Requirements 

See the General and Fiscal Guidelines, Program Requirements. 

In addition to the statutory requirements, TEA has established the following program requirements: 

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

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

3. 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. 

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

Grant Review and Funding Criteria 

LEA needs assessment application data will be reviewed and/or scored to determine awards and allocation amounts. Data collected in Qualtrics will be analyzed to determine the most prevalent costs for various types of activities needed to meet compliance with the adopted rule. Some or all applicants meeting eligibility requirements and submitting required needs assessment data by the deadline will be funded. Dependent on the data submitted through the Needs Assessment survey, analysis of statewide average costs will be extrapolated, giving cost values for statewide implementation based on the mean and standard deviation. 

REFERENCES: 

• TEA | To the Administrator Addressed (TAA): Extension of Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Needs Assessment

• 2023–2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Cycle 1

• TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Program Guidelines

• TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Needs Assessment

• TEA | PDF S.A.F.E. Grant Needs Assessment Preview

• TEA General and Fiscal Guidelines

Dates, except for the grant ending date, may vary slightly as conditions require. 

Date Event 

Aug. 24, 2023 IDC Needs Assessment Application available 

Sept. 25, 2023 The Office of School Safety and Security will host a webinar reviewing the eligibility requirements and allowable costs on September 25, at 12:00 p.m. CST.  Register for the Safety and Facility Enhancement (SAFE) Grant webinar.

Sept. 28, 2023 Deadline to submit Extended to September 28, 2023. School systems must complete the Needs Assessment to be considered for 

   funding. The IDC Needs Assessment application must be submitted via this link: TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Needs Assessment   

    (qualtrics.com).  The IDC Needs Assessment Application must be received by the TEA by 11:59 p.m., Central Time.  See General and 

Fiscal Guidelines.

Note: Once a survey is started, it will remain open for only 48 hours.  After 48 hours, the information will be cleared from the survey and the applicant will have to start from the beginning. School systems can download a PDF preview of the survey prior to 

   completing the Qualtrics survey.

LOI Application Due Date and Time 

Sept. 21, 2023 – Sept. 27, 2023 IDC Needs Assessment review period See General and Fiscal Guidelines, LOI Review Process 

Sept. 28, 2023 Anticipated award announcement 

Oct. 20, 2023 Anticipated eGrants Funding Application is released to awarded LEAs

Nov. 20, 2023 Anticipated Deadline for submitting the eGrants Funding Application 

Dec. 2023 Beginning date of grant (if selected for funding) See General and Fiscal Guidelines, Grant Period 

Jan. 15, 2024 Deadline EXTENDED from January 8, 2024, to January 15, 2024, to submit eGrants Funding Application.  Please submit your 

  application in the eGrants portal through January 15, 2024.  See Errata #2 (below), released January 5, 2024, for more information.

May 2025 Final date to submit an amendment (if selected for funding) 

July 2025 Ending date of grant (if selected for funding) See General and Fiscal Guidelines, Grant Period

For all dates related to the grant, including reporting dates, see the TEA Grant Opportunities page. If a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the date will be on the following business day. All dates except the grant ending date may vary slightly as conditions require

REFERENCE:  

• TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Program Guidelines

• TEA | SAFE Grant Final Allocations Table (PDF)

• TEA | Errata #1 2023-25 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Cycle 1

• TEA | Errata #2 2023-25 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant Cycle 1

• TEA | Announcement: SAFE, Cycle 1 Errata Notice #1 and Allocations Update

See the Administering a Grant page for general guidance on allowable activities and use of funds. 

Allowable Activities and Use of Funds 

1. Fencing 

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 

2. 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 

3. Glass Exterior Doors Not Within a Secured Area 

a. Purchase of forced-entry resistant film and installation materials. 

4. Ground Level Exterior Windows 

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

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 installation materials. 

5. 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.

6. 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 installation materials. 

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

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

f. Purchase and installation of security cameras at exterior door locations for the purpose of visual verification prior to allowing an individual to enter. 

7. Installation of the Aforementioned Components

a. Contracted installation; and 

b. Payroll for LEA maintenance or operations staff installation.

REFERENCES:  TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Program Guidelines

Unallowable Activities and Use of Funds 

In general, refer to the Budgeting Cost Guidance Handbook on the Administering a Grant page for unallowable costs. 

• Audit services for state-funded grants 

• Field Trips 

• Travel for Students to Conferences 

• Cost of Membership in Any Civic or Community Organization 

• Hosting or Sponsoring of Conferences 

• Advisory Council 

• Out-of-State Travel 

• Travel Costs for Officials such as Executive Director, Superintendent, or Board Members 

• Administrative Costs 

• Stipends for non-employees 

• Non-employee costs for conferences 

• Any costs other than those listed above in the Allowable Activities section.

REFERENCES:  TEA | S.A.F.E. Grant Program Guidelines