School Safety Resources
Resources addressing school safety and security issues, compiled by the TxA School Safety Subcomittee.
TxA School Safety Subcommittee
Architects have been a leading voice in policy discussions and rule-makings updating Texas Education Agency (TEA) school facilities standards, and establishing new safety and security design requirements for school construction and renovation projects. We continue to be actively involved in the ongoing effort to establish new rules for operational standards to improve school safety and implement minimum requirements for physical upgrades and functionality for existing buildings.
Continuing to improve the safety of school facilities will require funding for building upgrades and renovations necessary to comply with new minimum state standards of school safety for instructional facilities. Both new and renovated school facilities will need sufficient funding for building upgrades and the required testing, monitoring, and staffing needed for upgrades to be effective. Schools will also need support for ongoing maintenance.
We are committed to promoting best practice standards for the design and construction of school facilities and supporting improved educational outcomes through better design.
Documents Published by the TxA School Safety Subcomittee:
TxA Public Comment to TEA Commissioner’s Proposed Rules Concerning School Facilities (December 2022)
TxA Written Testimony: Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans (June 2022)
The Society’s Position (March 2021)
Findings Report: Security Concepts Parametric Cost Model (April 2019)
National School Safety Resources
Department of Defense
Physical Security & Anti-terrorist Design Guide For DoDEA Educational Facilities (Department of Defense Education Activity, Version 3, July 2017)
Department of Education
Building Blocks to School Safety: A Toolkit for Schools and District for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans, Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (Office of Safe and Healthy Students Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center, 2014)
Department of Homeland Security
Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model: An Operation Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence (United States Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center, July 2018)
National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 3000 (PS): Standard for an Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program (April 2018)
State School Safety Resources
House Select Committee on Youth Healthy & Safety: Interim Report to the 88th Legislature (January 2023)
Senate Special Committee to Protect All Texans: Interim Report to the 88th Legislature (December 2022)
Improving School Safety in Texas (Governor Greg Abbott, August 27, 2019)
Public School Building Construction and Reconstruction Advisory Committee: Final Report (Pennsylvania Legislature, May 2018)
School and Firearm Safety Action Report (Governor Greg Abbott, May 30, 2018)
Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security: Report to the 86th Legislature (Texas Senate, August 2019)