April 2025 Committee on School Initiatives Item 7

Report by the Texas School Safety Center Related to the Statutorily Required Biennial Report

April 10, 2025

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to receive statutorily required biennial report that includes any findings made by the center regarding school safety and security and the center's functions, budget information, and strategic planning initiatives.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §§37.2121, 37.216, and 37.2161.

TEC, §37.2121 requires the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) to include information regarding the center's efforts under this section in the Statutorily Required Biennial Report required by Section 37.216.

TEC, §37.216 requires the board of the TxSSC to provide a report to the governor, the legislature, the State Board of Education (SBOE), and the agency not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year.

The biennial report must include any findings made by the center regarding school safety and security and the center's functions, budget information, and strategic planning initiatives of the center.

TEC, §37.2161 requires the center to periodically provide a school safety and security progress report to the governor, the legislature, the SBOE, and the agency that contains current information regarding school safety and security in the school districts and public junior college districts.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: The board of the TxSSC is required to provide a report to the SBOE that addresses any findings made by TxSSC regarding school safety and security and the center's functions, budget information, and strategic planning initiatives of the center. This item provides an opportunity for the committee to hear an update related to this report.

Staff Member Responsible:
Kathy Martinez-Prather, Director of Texas School Safety Center