Texas School Safety Grants: Update

TEA School Safety Grants  

Since the Uvalde school shootings in May of 2022, the Texas Legislature has passed numerous bills regarding school safety and security requirements, along with appropriations from the Texas general revenue budget to help schools meet the financial requirements for these new mandates.

During the 87^th Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 1 (SB1)appropriated $415,000 from general revenue to help schools meet the School Safety Standards Rule, requiring all Texas schools to fortify entry doors and ground-level exterior windows with entry-resistant security film. The TEA was appointed to administer the grants and released the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant.

During the most recent 88^th Texas Legislature, House Bill 3 (HB3) was passed on June 14, 2023, and became law on September 1, 2023. Senate Bill 30, Section 4.02 appropriated $1.1 billion from the general revenue fund to the TEA for grants, the first of which is the 2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement Grant (Safe) Cycle 1 grant.

TEA Grant Differences, Deadlines & Updates  

2022- 2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant

This grant is administered by the TEA and funded by the State of Texas under Governor Greg Abbot’s Execution Order of October 27, 2022.

Purpose of Grant:
The School Safety Standards Formula Grant provides funds to assist schools in meeting the new school safety standards applicable to 19 TAC §61.1031, requiring specific security and safety standards for exterior doors and primary entrances, in addition to requirements for access controls, door numbering plans, emergency communications, and safety audits.

Important Dates:
The grant application deadline was August 1, 2023, and schools were required to certify compliance for TAC §61.1031 (i)2(B) and procure a contractor for required work by August 31, 2023 to qualify for grant funds.

*Note: The current posted version of 19 TAC §61.1031 has a new certification requirement date of August 31, 2024. While we haven’t seen an official communication from TEA on this date change, we will work to confirm details and post updates.

2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant

This grant is administered by the TEA and funded by appropriations from Senate Bill 30, Section 4.02 of the 88^th Texas Legislative Session.

Purpose of Grant:
This grant is provided to schools who have applied for the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant and have certified they are NOT in compliance with the adopted school safety standards in Section B of the 2022-2025 School Safety Standards Formula Grant application.

Important Dates:
On August 24, 2023, the TEA announced the SAFE Grant, Cycle 1, with the required Needs Assessment deadline as September 21, 2023. The Needs Assessment date was extended from September 21 to September 28, 2023.

On November 10, 2023, the TEA (Texas Education Agency) released an Errata Notice for the 2023-2025 Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Grant, Cycle 1. The Errata Notice (notice of error in printed data after publication) covered these elements:

• 2023-2025 Grant application due date – changed from November 20, 2023 to January 8, 2024.
• Projected funds for the grants– updated to $821,575,503.00 from $800,000,000

The TEA also posted the Program Guidelines and SAFE Grant, Cycle 1 Allocations. For eligible LEAs who received an allocation for the Cycle 1 SAFE Grant, you must log in to TEAL and complete the required application.

Potential New School Safety Grants & Legislation

U.S. Department of Justice

On November 2, 2023, the Department of Justice announced $334 million in grants to state and local law enforcement agencies, school districts, and local governments. This includes $216 million through the COPS Hiring Program and $73 million in School Violence Prevention grants.

We will provide more information on grant applications and deadlines when updates are provided by The Department of Justice.

Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023

Introduced on July 27, 2022, as Senate Bill 2608 of the 118^th Congress, this bill aims to improve public school infrastructure to ensure school facilities are safer for students by providing $130 billion over 5 years in grants and bonds for school facility capital needs. The bill has been introduced to the legislature, but no further information is available at this time.