Grant funding to support safer schools
The 2022 -2025 Texas Education Agency School Safety Standards Formula Grant provided $400 million to Texas schools. TEA School Safety Standards Formula Grant funds are required to be used to enhance the safety and security of campuses or to assist in meeting the budgetary requirements of placing legislatively required police officers at each campus.
Round Rock ISD received more than $5 million in grant funding in three separate payments.
- August 1, 2023, $1.992,164
- December 1, 2023, $1,836,786
- May 24, 2024, $1,222,263
The district-awarded funds were used to install window safety film at each campus, ensuring compliance with the Safety Texas Education Code TEC, §28.002, purchase police equipment and pay officer salaries, under TEC, §28.002 continue actively installing fencing around all campuses, expected to be completed before the end of the 2027-28 school year.
Firearm safety initiative
Texas Education Code Requirement: Schools must provide gun safety information to parents/guardians and students.
House Bill 3, Section 19 (88th Texas Legislature) adds Section 37.222 to the TEC, which requires the Texas School Safety Center, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety, to provide to each school district and open-enrollment charter school information and other resources regarding the safe storage of firearms, including information on section 46.13 of the Texas Penal Code, for distribution by the district or school.
Expectations for district action:
- Annual distribution of safety information
- Safe storage practices
- Risks of unsecured firearms
- Prevention of unauthorized access (especially by minors)
Resources for families:
- Resources for safety training
- Local community programs, Texas Gun Sense, Moms Demand Action
State-required mental health training
Mental health challenges often develop during adolescence, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders. One-half of all chronic mental illnesses begin by the age of 14. Over the past five years, the Travis County Mental Health Authority (Integral Care) has seen a 65% increase in suicides among youth. Training increases the likelihood of students getting the help they need. In our district, students can receive help from counselors and social workers. When students get the help they need, they are better able to focus and engage in learning.
TEC 22.904: “…a school district shall require each district employee who regularly interacts with students enrolled at the district to complete an evidence-based mental health training program designed to provide instruction to participants regarding the recognition and support of children and youth who experience a mental health or substance use issue that may pose a threat to school safety.”
HB 3: Youth Mental Health First Aid is the only named training and meets all requirements. It is recommended by Region 13. However, other options are being explored in order to bring our district into compliance.
District compliance timeline
- At least 25% of the applicable district employees shall be trained before the start of the 2025-26 school year.
- At least 50% of the applicable school district employees shall be trained before the start of the 2026-27 school year.
- At least 75% of the applicable school district employees shall be trained before the start of the 2027-28 school year.
- 100% of the applicable district employees shall be trained before the start of the 2028-29.
Safety and Security Committee
The Safety and Security Committee meets at the Old Hopewell Building, 1311 Round Rock Ave., in Round Rock, at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays: Nov. 6, 2024; and in 2025, Jan. 8, March 5, May 7 and Aug. 6.
If there is a need to schedule a called Safety and Security Committee meeting in addition to the dates above, the district will email information out as early as possible.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Round Rock ISD and for helping to keep our schools and students safe.
