What’s changing this year with school safety? The Tennessee Comptroller releases a rundown.

School safety has been among the most talked about education topics this year in Tennessee following the tragic shooting at Covenant School in Nashville and the Special Session on Public Safety over the summer.To help you keep track of all the changes members of the Tennessee General Assembly passed, the Tennessee Comptroller’s Office released an overview this week that includes a summary of key changes along with new requirements for school construction and renovations.“Key changes summarized in this brief include new state funding and changes in funds distribution; new requirements for annual school security assessments and safety plans, with particular attention to locked school doors; new safety drills and the creation of threat assessment teams; changes in building requirements for new and remodeled schools; and the inclusion of private schools for some state funding and some security requirements,” wrote Assistant Director Linda Wesson.

Funding Improvements

The Tennessee General Assembly passed more than $240 million in new funding for school safety in 2023.This money includes $140 million in recurring state dollars to provide at least one full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) in every public school.The General Assembly also passed $40 million in one-time funds for public school security improvements and $14 million for private school improvements. The state also approved an extra $10 million to help traditional and public charter schools without full-time SRO officers and address the areas with shortages.Lawmakers additionally approved $8 million to expand the number of school-based behavioral health liaisons and $15 million to expand the number of Homeland Security agents, support staff, and systems that can assist with school security assessments, threat assessments, and emergency response plans.The state also made changes to fold $19 million from the former Safe Schools Grant into the new Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding formula for public schools.Previously, the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) awarded these grants to school districts based and required matching local dollars and an explanation how the grant would be used to improve school security.  Now school districts and charter schools are authorized to use their TISA funding for the same types of school safety needs the grant funded in the past.

Buildings Improvements

Schools across the state have new requirements this year that all school buildings are to be locked during the day and during school-related activities outside of regular hours while students are present. The state is allowing exceptions if the door is continuously physically monitored by a school or district employee.There will be penalties for public schools found to have unlocked doors under a new state law.Additionally, new school and building renovations guidelines for traditional public school and public charter schools require more robust security including:

• Locks on each classroom door.
• Clear, bullet-resistant or entry-resistant film on glass panels on every exterior door or basement level window.
• A camera system that is accessible by a local law enforcement agency and continuously monitors each entrance, hallway, and communal area in the school building during regular hours and during school-related activities on school grounds.
• At least one secure enclosed area that serves as the primary entrance to the school and contains two separate sets of doors that can be locked separately.

Safety Drills Required

Tennessee students are also taking part in new safety drills that are required for every public and private school.The new armed intruder safety drills must be conducted in coordination with local law enforcement agencies and during the drills, schools must provide law enforcement with access to the security systems such as cameras, alarm systems, and audio and visual recording systems to the most practical extent possible.The drills must also be conducted at public schools without students present and private schools may conduct these drills with or without students present.Additionally, a new law updated training requirements for security guards. Now, there will be an eight-hour active shooter training for any licensed, armed security guard that provides security or patrol services for any public or private elementary, middle, or high school.

Safety Plans and Threat Assessment

Tennessee law previously only required public schools to use an emergency operation plan also known as a safety plan. Now private schools are required to adopt the same type of safety plan as public schools and the schools must review and submit these plans to the appropriate authorities and law enforcement every July.Additionally, districts are now required to establish threat assessment teams made up of local law enforcement and school district staff. These teams are designed to foster a safe, supportive, and effective school environment by identifying and assessing potential threats and intervening to prevent violence.