TxSSC
Emergency Management
“Schools continually face emergencies, both man-made and natural, that vary in severity, duration, and expenditure.”
Schools continually face emergencies, both man-made and natural, that vary in severity, duration, and expenditure. Districts and campuses must take preventive actions to successfully fulfill their primary mission, providing a safe educational space for all students. Texas Education Code (TEC §37.108) requires each district have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) that addresses prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Once the EOP is in place, drilling and training components of emergency management begin to identify areas in need of improvement, clarify member roles, and improve coordination. Additionally, the Texas Legislature requires school districts, including charter schools, and public junior colleges to conduct a safety and security audit of their facilities at least once every three years. Key features of the audits are collected by the TxSSC and aggregated into a statewide report. This process directs schools’ attention to the safety and security needs of their facilities.
- Additional Resources
Featured Articles
Resources for School Recovery after COVID-19 Closures
May 2020
Schools have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We know much uncertainty exists in all aspects related to this crisis, including the process of recovery as schools begin resuming activities. Recovery will take time and should be considered in a holistic manner given the scope of processes, people, and places affected by COVID-19. We encourage educators and administrators to openly communicate about recovery, be realistic about the challenges they and their district face, and exercise patience in moving forward. (Read more…)
Best Practices for Safety in Portable Buildings
September 2019
As required by the 86th Texas Legislature and SB 11, the following resource outlines safety and security best practices developed to assist schools in ensuring student safety and the safety of all persons, in portable buildings used for instruction. In the context of this resource, “best practices” are considered to be those actions or techniques that have been tested through experience and/or research and have been demonstrated to be efficient and effective ways of accomplishing the task or goal. (Read more…)
Articles
The Most Important Safety Plan is the One you Don’t Have
May 2018
According to the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state is crisscrossed with over 439,771 miles of pipelines. Human error, like digging without calling 811 to have underground pipelines and utilities marked for safety beforehand, is still the leading cause of pipeline damages across the United States. Therefore, it is important for Texas schools to have relevant information and resources to keep students safe at school... (Read more…)
Hurricane Harvey Resources for Texas Schools
September 2017
Hurricane Harvey swept our Texas coast, and as a result, affected 58 counties in the state. Consequently, the daily operations of many districts and schools were negatively impacted as a result of the storm. In order to help districts, school personnel, and students begin the recovery process, the Texas School Safety Center is compiling a list of trusted organizations and timely... (Read more…)
Keeping Our Playgrounds Safe
August 2017
Students engage in a variety of activities during play time, lunch periods, recess hours and physical education classes at school playgrounds. The activities that occur at these playgrounds contribute to the overall academic success as well as the general wellbeing of students. Playgrounds also provide opportunities for students to interact and build good relationships with their peers outside of the classroom. (Read more…)
Unseen Dangers: A look at Hazards You May Be Overlooking
May 2017
Texas surpasses the Nation in the amount of pipelines and has the second largest population. Our vast pipeline system is continually growing and so are our schools. Not only do hundreds of Texas schools have a pipeline within 1,000 feet of their property, but in oil and gas producing parts of the state, some schools are within the impact radius of multiple pipelines. (Read more…)
Taking the Next Step in School Preparedness
April 2013
No district or school wants to imagine the effects of a large scale disaster on their community. Often, the phrase "it will not happen here" or "it will not happen to us" is thrown around. In reality, regardless of geographical location, all districts in Texas are vulnerable to some type of large scale disaster, whether it is manmade or natural. (Read more…)
Background Checks for On-campus Housing
October 2013
The safety and security of students in Texas school districts and institutes of higher education (IHE) is a concern for lawmakers, administrators, and citizens. However, school districts and IHE require different approaches to safety and security. A key difference between school districts and IHE campuses regards the student population. (Read more…)
Visitor Management and School Safety
May 2010
Access control continues to be one of the top safety and security challenges faced by schools. Allowing unauthorized individuals access to a school or facility can compromise student and staff safety. To help reduce the occurrence of any safety incidents, this article provides guidance that schools and districts can utilize when creating and improving visitor management... (Read more…)