Originally published on 10/18/21
AUSTIN, Texas – October 18, 2021 – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) today renewed their annual partnership for Texas Safe Schools Week, this year running from October 18-22.
TEA and TxSSC continue to encourage Texas schools to take a comprehensive approach to school safety – which requires all school staff, students, parents, first responders, mental health professionals, and community stakeholders to work together to ensure safe and secure learning environments.
“Texas educators and administrators maintain an ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all students on public school campuses,” said Commissioner of Education Mike Morath. “Their diligence and hard work on our 8,700-plus campuses across Texas helps to make our classrooms safe places for students to learn and grow.”
As schools in Texas and elsewhere across the country face emergency situations that vary in severity and duration, it is imperative not only for school personnel, but also for students, to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings, both on and off campus. Evacuation, fire, and lockdown drills should be conducted throughout the school year. Several of these emergency drills should include first responders so they can become familiar with their local school campuses.
“School safety practices should be a priority every day in our schools,” said TxSSC Director Kathy Martinez-Prather. “Prevention and preparedness efforts play a critical role in fostering a safe school climate. Having regularly reviewed emergency plans developed with local first responders, as well as regular training and drilling in emergency procedures, will help to ensure that responses are well-executed in the event of an actual emergency.”
The TxSSC provides extensive online resources and in-person workshops to assist schools across Texas with emergency operations plan development, training and drilling, school threat assessment and management, response protocols, bullying and suicide prevention, and a variety of other school safety topics. For more information about Texas Safe Schools Week, to access available resources, or to view upcoming training opportunities, visit https://txssc.txstate.edu.
Texas Safe Schools Week is held annually in conjunction with the national America's Safe Schools Week.