School Safety Allotment Funds

Background and Purpose

The 86th Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 11, which created an annual school safety allotment to help fund equipment, programs, and training related to school safety and security. The 87th Legislature enacted House Bill (HB) 1525, which included a provision requiring TEA to publish an annual report regarding the programs, personnel, resources, and other purposes for which the funds were used by LEAs.  The 88th Legislature passed House Bill (HB) 3, which increased the amount of funds districts receive and added additional areas funds could be used to improve safety and security. 

For additional information, please see Texas Education Code, Section 48.115 and Adopted Repeal of and New 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules on School Finance, §61.1008, School Safety Allotment. 

Allowable Uses of Funds

 Funds allocated under this section must be used to improve school safety and security, including costs associated with:

a. improvements to school infrastructure;

b. the use or installation of perimeter security fencing conducive to a public school learning environment or physical barriers, which may not 

    include razor wire; 

c. exterior door and window safety and security upgrades, including exterior door numbering and locking systems and security film that provides resistance to a forced entry; and

d. the purchase and maintenance of:

(i)  security cameras and, if the district has already installed security cameras, other security equipment, including video surveillance as provided by Section 29.022;   and

(ii)  technology, including communications systems or devices, such as silent panic alert devices, two-way radios, or wireless Internet booster equipment, 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 measures, 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 and

5. employing a school safety director and other personnel to manage and monitor school safety initiatives and the implementation of school safety requirements for the district.

(b-1)  The agency may designate certain technologies that a school district, in using funds allocated under this section, may purchase only from a vendor approved by the agency.

(b-2)  If the agency, in coordination with the Texas School Safety Center, determines that entering into a statewide contract with a vendor for provision of a technology designated under Subsection (b-1) would result in cost savings to school districts, the agency may, after receiving approval from the Legislative Budget Board and office of the governor, enter into a contract with a vendor to provide the technology to each district that uses funds allocated under this section to purchase that technology.

(c)  A school district may use funds allocated under this section for equipment or software that is used for a school safety and security purpose and an instructional purpose, provided that the instructional use does not compromise the safety and security purpose of the equipment or software.

(c-1)  The agency, or if designated by the agency, the Texas School Safety Center, shall establish and publish a directory of approved vendors of school safety technology and equipment a school district may select from when using funds allocated under this section.  If a school district uses funds allocated under this section to purchase technology or equipment from a vendor that is not included in the directory, the district must solicit bids from at least three vendors before completing the purchase.

(d)  The commissioner shall annually publish a report regarding funds allocated under this section including the programs, personnel, and resources purchased by districts using funds under this section and other purposes for which the funds were used.

(e)  Notwithstanding any other law, a school district may use funds allocated under this section to provide training to a person authorized by the district to carry a firearm on a district campus.

REFERENCE: Texas Education Code, Section 48.115 

FY 2023 School Safety Allotment Survey 

FY 2023 school safety allotment data will be collected by mandatory survey beginning on Friday, January 5, 2024, and concluding on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. To successfully complete the survey, LEAs should gather and collect information related to all expenditures from their school safety allotment for the 2023 fiscal year. When completing the survey, LEAs should only account for funds allotted, as based on the 2022-2023 Summary of Finance report – Line 33, Near Final. 


• The deadline to submit this data has been extended to Tuesday, February 27, 2024. 

• Please preview the FY 2023 School Safety Allotment data collection prior to submission. 


For additional information, including allowable expenditures, please see Texas Education Code, Section 48.115. 


REFERENCE: TAA School Safety Allotment (2-15-24)

How to Locate the Annual Allotment Amount 

The School Safety Allotment Funds are currently calculated at $10 for each student in average daily attendance, plus $1 for each student in average daily attendance per every $50 by which the district’s maximum basic allotment under Section 48.051 (Basic Allotment) exceeds $6,160, prorated as necessary; and $15,000 per campus.

To Locate Your District's School Safety Allotment Funding Amount. 

Resources