| (a) Each local educational agency (LEA), which includes
school districts and open-enrollment charter schools, that elects
to conduct an active threat exercise, defined as any exercise that
includes a simulated active aggressor or an active shooter simulation,
shall do so in accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §37.1141,
and this section.
(1) LEAs are not required to conduct active threat
exercises.
(2) LEAs may consider using a tabletop exercise as
defined in §103.1209 of this title (relating to Mandatory School
Drills) to achieve the purpose, goals, and objectives of the exercise
rather than using a functional or full-scale active threat exercise.
(3) LEAs may consider conducting an active threat exercise
during a non-instructional time when nonparticipants are not present
in the facility.
(b) Prior to conducting an active threat exercise,
an LEA must:
(1) provide adequate notice of the exercise directly
to individuals participating in the exercise, parents of students
participating in the exercise, and all other individuals impacted
by the exercise. Adequate notice of the active threat exercise shall
also be posted through multiple distribution networks, including,
but not limited to, the LEA's website and social media platforms.
(A) To be considered adequate notice, notice shall
be provided and posted at least two weeks prior to the exercise.
(B) The notice shall include the following required
elements specified in TEC, §37.1141(a)(1):
(i) the date on which the exercise will occur;
(ii) the content, form, and tone of the exercise; and
(iii) whether the exercise will include a live simulation
that mimics or appears to be an actual shooting incident;
(C) The notice shall be provided to parents in the
parents' native language to the greatest extent practicable.
(2) make an audible announcement over the campus public
address system immediately prior to the commencement of the exercise
to signal the start of the exercise to the participants, noting that
it is only an exercise and not a real emergency. The announcement
must contain the elements specified in TEC, §37.1141(a)(2); and
(3) ensure that the content of the exercise, which
includes planning and execution of the exercise, addresses the following
elements:
(A) input from multiple stakeholder perspectives in
the design of the exercise;
(B) the physical and psychological safety of all participants
before, during, and after the exercise, including:
(i) planning in a trauma-informed manner to minimize
potential trauma for students, staff, and other participants;
(ii) the development and communication of a predetermined
method for participants to withdraw from the exercise before or during
the exercise; and
(iii) access to mental health supports before, during,
and after the exercise; and
(C) the developmental appropriateness of the exercise,
which includes a comprehensive perspective that supports the cognitive
and emotional well-being of each individual and considers the impact
that prior trauma, grief, and crisis experiences have had on a participant's
development prior to the exercise. Developmental appropriateness considerations
include the needs of special populations, including students with
disabilities and emergent bilingual students.
(c) In accordance with TEC, §37.1141(c), data
regarding the efficacy and impact of an active threat exercise shall
be collected and submitted to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)
using the methods developed by the TxSSC.
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