Junior Community College Safety and Security Audit Toolkit

NEW! November 2024 

This Safety and Security Audit Toolkit serves as a comprehensive framework for conducting the state-mandated Safety and Security Audit within the district. This toolkit will assist the district through each phase of the audit process, encompassing preparedness, execution, reporting, and improvement planning. The provided templates and resources within the toolkit are essential to the audit process aimed at evaluating and enhancing the district's safety measures, security protocols, and overall emergency preparedness.

Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Toolkit

May 2024 

The Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Toolkit serves as a directory of resources to connect schools, parents, youth, and adults to help combat fentanyl usage among youth. The toolkit provides information on current Texas laws, education and outreach programs, educational modules and videos, awareness campaigns, tools for educators, information about naloxone and several other resources.

Training and Exercise Toolkit

March 2024 

The Training and Exercise Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Training and Exercise Annex attached to your district EOP. The Training and Exercise Annex is needed to ensure policies and procedures are in place to be compliant with multiple legislative mandates. This toolkit includes a Training and Exercise Annex Template that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, and additional resources, from various agencies to provide districts with additional support while creating the Training and Exercise Annex.

Cybersecurity Toolkit

January 2024 

The Cybersecurity Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Cybersecurity Annex. The Cybersecurity Annex establishes the policies and procedures under which the district will operate if a cybersecurity incident impacts district operations. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This Toolkit includes a Cybersecurity Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This Toolkit also includes a list of available trainings and additional resources from various agencies all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Cybersecurity Annex.

Utilities Toolkit

November 2023 

The Utilities Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Utilities Annex. The Utilities Annex establishes the policies and procedures under which the district will operate if an incident impacts a district by disrupting utilities. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes a Utilities Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings and additional resources from various agencies all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Utilities Annex.

Recognizing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence Toolkit

August 2023 

Recognizing and responding to teen dating violence requires an awareness of the prevalence of dating violence, indicators of abuse in relationships, and steps to take if someone is experiencing dating violence. Dating violence is often overlooked due to preconceived ideas about what abuse looks like in relationships or the false assumption that it is not prevalent in young people's relationships. Section 1 begins with an overview of dating violence for all audiences. Subsequent sections are directed to school staff, parents, and students, each with information relevant to the specific audience.

Facilities Access Management Toolkit

July 2023 

The Facilities Access Management Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Facilities Access Management Annex. The Facilities Access Management Annex is needed to ensure policies and procedures are in place in order to be compliant with Texas Education Code and to ensure district facility access management before, during, and after an incident or special event occurring at district facilities. This toolkit includes a Facilities Access Management Annex Template, completion guide, and a Polling Place Appendix Template that will assist districts with completing the annex and appendix. The toolkit also includes a list of available trainings and additional resources from various agencies all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Facilities Access Management Annex.

Emergency Communications Toolkit

April 2023 

The Emergency Communications Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating an Emergency Communications Annex. The Emergency Communications Annex is needed to ensure policies and procedures are in place in order to be compliant with Texas Education Code 37.108 and 37.113, and to ensure your district has the ability to communicate in a timely and efficient manner during incidents impacting the district. This toolkit includes an Emergency Communications Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings and additional resources from various agencies all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Emergency Communications Annex.

Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Toolkit

March 2023 

The Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating an Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Annex. The Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Annex establishes the policies and procedures under which the district will operate if an incident requires the evacuation of a building or to shelter-in-place. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes an Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings and additional resources from various agencies all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Annex.

Psychological Resilience Toolkit

The Psychological Resilience Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Psychological Resilience Annex. A Psychological Resilience Annex is needed to ensure policies and procedures are in place to ensure individuals and school communities possess the ability to recover from any adversity. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes a Psychological Resilience Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, additional resources from various agencies, and tabletop exercises all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Psychological Resilience Annex.

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Toolkit

The Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Annex. A Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Annex ensures essential functions remain operational during an incident impacting the district. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, additional resources from various agencies, and tabletop exercises all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Annex.

School Behavioral Threat Assessment Toolkit

Threat assessment provides a proactive, evidence-based approach for identifying individuals who may pose a threat to themselves or others and for providing interventions before a violent incident occurs. This toolkit introduces the concept of threat assessment and outlines how to conduct threat assessment in a school setting. It provides model policies and procedures for establishing threat assessment teams. The resources provided will help state mandated threat assessment teams distinguish between an individual who makes a threat versus one who poses a threat and is on the pathway to violence.

EOP Basic Plan Toolkit

The EOP Basic Plan Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Basic Plan. The Basic Plan is the core of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan and provides an overview of the district's emergency management concepts, policies, and outlines a district's organizational structure. This toolkit includes a Basic Plan Template that will assist districts with completing the Basic Plan. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings and additional resources from various agencies all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Basic Plan.

Active Threat Toolkit

The Active Threat Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating an Active Threat Annex. An Active Threat Annex is needed to ensure policies and procedures are in place to protect students, faculty, and staff from an active threat incident. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes an Active Threat Annex Template, completion guide, and templates for recommended appendices that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, additional resources from various agencies, and tabletop exercises all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Active Threat Annex.

Severe Weather Toolkit

The Severe Weather Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Severe Weather Annex. The Severe Weather Annex is needed to establish the policies and procedures under which the district will operate in the event of a severe weather incident. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes a Severe Weather Annex Template, completion guide, and templates for recommended appendices that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, additional resources from various agencies, and tabletop exercises all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Severe Weather Annex.

Hazardous Materials Toolkit

The Hazardous Materials Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Hazardous Materials Annex. The Hazardous Materials Annex is needed to ensure policies and procedures are in place to protect students, faculty, and staff from a hazardous materials incident. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes a Hazardous Materials Annex Template, completion guide, and templates for recommended appendices that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, additional resources from various agencies, and tabletop exercises all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Hazardous Materials Annex.

Communicable Disease Annex Toolkit

The Communicable Disease Annex Toolkit provides resources to assist districts when creating a Communicable Disease Annex. The Communicable Disease Annex addresses the necessary actions the district will take during a communicable disease incident. Annexes, essential components of a district's multi-hazard emergency operations plan, address district actions and responsibilities through the five phases of emergency management and should be attached to a district's Basic Plan. This toolkit includes a Communicable Disease Annex Template and completion guide that will assist districts with completing the annex. This toolkit also includes a list of available trainings, additional resources from various agencies, and tabletop exercises all intended to provide districts with additional support while creating the Communicable Disease Annex.

Texas School Personnel's Guide to Social Media Toolkit

This interactive guide includes overviews of popular social media platforms and video games, summaries of relevant Texas and federal laws, as well as additional information on sexting vs. sextortion and common online terminology and slang.

Mental Health Resource Toolkit

Mental health is an essential component to a child's overall health and wellbeing. Awareness of the current Texas mental health landscape is key to leveraging resources that are available. This toolkit provides an overview of state-level initiatives and regional mental health resources.

A Parent's Guide to School Safety Toolkit

The Texas School Safety Center understands that school safety is a primary concern for parents and guardians. A Parent's Guide to School Safety introduces key school safety topics, highlights relevant Texas laws, and provides specific information that you and your child need to know. The guidance and resources will equip you with how to best support your child and your child's school. This toolkit is designed to be a resource in which you can read from start to finish, or you can utilize the Table of Contents to read more about specific safety topics. A Spanish version of this toolkit is coming soon.

School Safety and Security Audit Toolkit

The School Safety and Security Audit Toolkit provides public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools with a model process for conducting safety and security audits of their facilities and safety and security processes as required by Texas Education Code Sec. 37.108. The toolkit provides guidance and job-aids to assist with forming and training an audit team, conducting document reviews and site visits, protecting sensitive audit information, and reporting results as required by current Texas statute.

Before You Text: Sexting & Bullying Prevention, Education & Intervention Course

The Before You Text: Bullying and Sexting Course may be used in part or in its entirety as an educational tool. There is also an accompanying test to demonstrate successful completion of this course. Upon answering 80% or more of the test questions correctly a certificate of successful completion is available for printing. This course addresses bullying and sexting, and addresses the legal, social, emotional, educational, and career impact of these activities. Due to the content of this course, this course is recommended only for those 12 years of age and older.

School Safety Law Toolkit

This toolkit was designed to assist school safety and security stakeholders in identifying school safety-relevant legislation and applicable laws in layman's terms. This resource offers an overview of bills covering key topics, including bullying and cyberbullying, human trafficking, cyber security, school drills and exercises, and training requirements and changes impacting educators, school counselors, school boards, principals, other school personnel, peace officers, school marshals, and local school health advisory councils.

Safety and Security Agreements Toolkit

Agreements between school districts, law enforcement agencies, governmental entities, community organizations and other first responders can help facilitate a coordinated response in the event of an emergency and should be included in a district's Emergency Operations Plan. This toolkit provides information about the common types of agreements along with customizable templates and samples to assist schools in developing appropriate safety-related agreements. The toolkit also addresses a school district's legal responsibility to participate in Texas' statewide mutual aid system.

K-12 Standard Response Protocol Toolkit (Texas Edition)

The K-12 Standard Response Protocol (SRP) Toolkit offers guidance and resources for incorporating the Standard Response Protocol into a school safety plan, for critical incident response within individual schools in a school district. The intent of this toolkit is to provide basic guidance with respect for local conditions and authorities. The Texas Edition incorporates Texas specific guidance and mandates into these processes and materials.

K-12 Standard Reunification Method Toolkit (Texas Edition)

The K-12 Standard Reunification Method (SRM) Toolkit offers guidance and resources for incorporating the Standard Reunification Method into a school safety plan. School emergencies may require an evacuation or change the operational schedules of a school, necessitating a well-organized and structured way to reunite students with parents and guardians while the school retains accountability for their students. The Standard Reunification Method provides guidance for schools in the development and execution of student/parent reunifications.

Safe Gun Storage Information

As required by Texas Education Code 37.222, the TxSSC, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety, is providing each school district and open-enrollment charter school information regarding the safe storage of firearms. Districts must provide this information to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district or school. The Texas School Safety Center recommends districts provide this information multiple times annually—at the beginning of the school year, before holidays and breaks, and at the end of the school year.

The Greenlights Grant Initiative

The Greenlights Grant Initiative (GGI) is a national program connecting school districts across the country to federal funding to help make America’s schools and our children safer. GGI is focused on helping school districts apply for and receive federal school safety grants. School safety grant funding includes resources for mental health services, school security systems, and other common-sense measures to ensure our kids can learn in peace.

Texas Crime Stoppers Local Program Directory

Campus Crime Stoppers programs can help prevent dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations from occurring among our student populations both on and off campus. Reports of bullying, cyberbullying, truancy, sexual misconduct, suicide hindrance, animal cruelty, illegal drugs, weapons, human trafficking, theft, child abuse, dating violence, and more can all be submitted through the anonymous tip reporting system. Providing students an opportunity to help their school, community, and peers by discreetly reporting suspicious behavior or criminal activity allows students to proactively become part of the school safety solution and ensure youth who are at-risk receive services they need. This directory is a complete list of Local Crime Stoppers Organizations throughout the state.

REMS Guide For Developing High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans For Institutions Of Higher Education

As required by 37.108 of the Texas Education Code, public junior college districts shall adopt and implement a multi-hazard emergency operations plan for use in the district's facilities. This toolkit, provided by the REMS TA Center, outlines similar planning principles to our High-Quality Emergency Operation Planning Tool, however, provides specific considerations for institutions of Higher Education.

School Safety Spotlight Program

We want to hear what you, your school, district, or colleagues are doing to make a difference in our schools and communities as it relates to safety and security. Recognizing the creativity and diversity of Texas schools, programming, and personnel, the School Safety Spotlight Program has five categories from which nominations can be made.

Averted School Violence Data Collection System

The Averted School Violence (ASV) system, developed by The Police Foundation and funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services, is an online data collection form and incident report library, which allows law enforcement, school personnel, and mental health professionals to anonymously share and view reported incidents of averted and carried out school violence. The ASV allows for the sharing of lessons learned and exchange of best practices to improve school safety.

PEIMS Discipline Data Products

The Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) encompasses all data requested and received by the Texas Education Agency about public education, including student demographic and academic performance, discipline incidents and responses, personnel, financial, and organizational information. The Discipline Data Products are downloadable reports and files that include statistics extracted or calculated from the data collected through the Public Education Information Management System. Discipline reports provide student enrollment data in discipline settings, including incident counts and disciplinary actions, and are available at the state, region or district level.