Response to Active Shooter  &
School Safety Certification
​
In 2013, the Texas Legislature passed SB 1857, entitled "The Texas School Safety Training Act." This bill established a process  by which current license to carry (LTC) instructors that take and pass an additional certification course conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety, can provide a state certified training program for school districts and school employees who wish to have employees with LTCs carry handguns on campus as outlined in Texas Government Code §411.1901.  This is also known as 'The School Guardian Plan' and offers more flexibility for school districts at a much less cost and liability than the 'School Marshal Plan'.

Consider the fact that statistics derived from real active shooter events show for every minute of delay in responding to an active shooter, approximately 6 people will be shot. How long is the average response time before the active shooter is engaged by first responders? ... 7 minutes. 

In rural Texas counties, law enforcement response times can be as much as 30 minutes or longer.  And that's for the first law enforcement officer to arrive on scene.  For schools in remote parts of the state, the teachers, administrators and students ARE the first responders for their school.

​Do the math and you will see why school districts across the state are implementing similar strategies.​

​Topics include:
  • Protection of Students
  • Interaction of license holders with first responders
  • Tactics for denying an intruder entry into a classroom or school facility
  • Methods for increasing a license holder's accuracy with a handgun while under duress
  • Practical exercises

​Length: 16 hours. (2 days)

Prerequisites: Texas License to Carry a Handgun

Required Equipment: Handgun, quality belt holster (kydex or leather, must cover trigger guard, must be possible to reholster one handed), 2 or more magazines, 300 rounds of handgun ammunition. Eye and ear protection.

Cost: $400

Students must:
  • demonstrate proficiency with their handgun with a passing score of 90 percent (compared to the passing score of 70 percent to get your LTC)
  • pass two written examinations with a score of 90 percent (compared to the passing score of 70 percent on one written examination to get your LTC)
Upon successful completion of the course, the participant will receive a LTC-97 Completion of School Safety Training certificate.  The instructor will also file a LTC-95 Class Completiong roster with the Texas Department of Public Safety that will become a part of their License to Carry records in accordance with Texas Government Code §411.1901.

A Comparison Between the Two Plans:

School Guardian Plan      
 As determined by the Texas Attorney General in 2013, the legal authority for this plan is found primarily in Texas Penal Code §46.03(a)(1) in combination with a school board's general authority to manage and oversee public schools under Texas Education Code §11.151(b) and 11.1511(b)(15).

The sole purpose is to stop an active shooter and protect students and faculty before law enforcement arrives. 

Requires:
  • 16 hours by licensed and certified instructor
  • Stricter 90% score to pass live fire qualification 
  • Knowlege and skillsets to safely stop active shooter only. No law enforcement training or powers.
  • Training can be customized to better fit the student and district as long as the training includes the required topics.
  • The school has broad discretion as long as district written regulations or polices follow any other applicable law making the School Guardian Plan much more flexible than the School Marshal Plan.
​
School Marshal Plan
Authorized under Texas Education Code §37.0811. The sole purpose of a School Marshal is to prevent the act of murder or serious bodily injury on school premises, and act only as defined by the written regulations adopted by the School Board/Governing Body.

District employees who participate in the School Marshal Plan must already holds a license to carry. The marshal job will be an additional role that they take on.

​Requires:
  • 80 hours training from TCOLE certified law enforcement instructor
  • Only 75% score to pass live fire qualification
  • Handgun must be in locked container 
  • Must use frangible ammo
  • Non-customizeable training plan
  • Must go to TCOLE approved Police Academy for training
  • Only one marshal per 200 students allowed
  • Only one marshal per building
  • Includes arrest procedures and laws focusing on security/ law enforcement duties
  • Strict State requirements and rules