Texas Announces $105.5M for School Safety; Including $17.1M for Panic Alert Technology 

Texas has announced the transfer of $105.5 million as additional funding that will boost actions the state has already taken to make schools safer and support the mental health of children, teachers, and families following the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.  

“We must do everything possible to protect children and safeguard our schools,” Gov. Greg Abbott stated in a letter to the Texas Education Agency in June 2022. 

As part of the $105.5 million school safety and mental health initiative, the state of Texas Governor’s Office has appropriated $17.1 million to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for distribution to school districts for the purchase of silent panic alert technology. 

The funding is specifically allocated as follows: 

• $50 million for bullet-resistant shields 
• $5.8 million to expand the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) statewide 
• $4.7 million to the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to increase Multisystemic Therapy (MST) across the state 
• $950,000 to HHSC to expand Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) teams across the state 
• $7 million for rapid response training by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center and $3 million for local law enforcement agencies to offset travel expenditures associated with the training
• $7 million to the Texas School Safety Center for on-site campus assessments to evaluate access control measures
• $17.1 million for school districts to purchase silent panic alert technology 
• $5 million to the Texas Department of Public Safety to expand fusion center research and capabilities. 

The TEA has also extended the end date for the 2019-2021 School Safety and Security Grant Notice of Grant Award (NOGA). The new grant end date is June 15, 2023. Eligible purchases include safety and security equipment (campus hardening) such as: (1) exterior doors with push bars;  (2) metal detectors at school entrances; (3) erected vehicle barriers; (4) security systems that monitor and record school entrances, exits, and hallways; (5) campus-wide active shooter alarm systems that are separate from fire alarms; (6) two-way radio systems; (7) perimeter security fencing; (8) bullet-resistant glass or film for school entrances; and (9) door-locking systems.