November 2021 Committee on School Initiatives Item 3

Approval of Required School Safety Training for District Trustees

November 19, 2021

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: House Bill 690, passed by the 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, requires the State Board of Education (SBOE) to require a trustee to complete training on school safety. The SBOE, in coordination with the Texas School Safety Center, must develop the curriculum and materials for the training. This item provides an opportunity for the board to approve the school safety training curriculum developed by the Texas School Safety Center.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.159(b-1), as amended by HB 690, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021

TEC, §11.159(b-1), requires the SBOE to require a trustee to complete training on school safety. The SBOE, in coordination with the Texas School Safety Center, must develop the curriculum and materials for the training.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: This item provides an opportunity for the board to approve an outline of the school safety training curriculum developed by the Texas School Safety Center. HB 690 requires that the training materials be approved by January 1, 2022.

The SBOE has adopted continuing education requirements for school board members in 19 TAC Chapter 61, Subchapter A. Following approval of the curriculum and materials, a proposed amendment to 19 TAC §61.101 to add the school safety training requirement will be presented to the board for consideration at a future meeting. At the September 2021 meeting, the Texas School Safety Center presented an outline for the proposed curriculum to the committee. Following the September 2021 meeting, the SBOE chair appointed an ad hoc committee to work with the Texas School Safety Center on the curriculum in advance of the November 2021 meetings.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Approve the school safety training curriculum and materials developed by the Texas School Safety Center.

Staff Member Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services