Enhancing School Safety & Security through Sentinel

Creating a safe and secure learning environment in schools is one of Texas’ highest priorities.

The framework of School Safety and Security in Texas has changed tremendously since the tragedy in Uvalde, TX. After the horrific events of May 24, 2022, the Texas Legislature passed several bills that include new rigorous safety standards that all school districts and charters in Texas must adhere to. The Office of School Safety and Security at the Texas Education Agency was formed, and funds were allocated from the state legislature for school district safety & security to the tune of $1.4 Billion. These funds were divided up into several grants that all districts and charters could apply for. 

Upon its inception, The Office of School Safety at TEA was tasked with creating a “one-stop-shop” database for school safety processes. Over the past few years, it has become vital for schools to have emergency response plans, facility information, auditable documentation, and other safety data organized and at their fingertips. Sentinel does just that. 

(Pictured: Winnsboro ISD staff participating in Active Threat Response Training)

Fast forward 2 years…

In the Spring of 2024, Region 7 School Safety Staff participated in a pilot program with stakeholders from TEA and other ESCs. This group provided input and ideas for the design and functionality of Sentinel. On July 25, 2024, Governor Greg Abbott announced the statewide launch of Sentinel, the Texas Education Agency’s formal school safety dashboard designed to collect, process, store, and distribute school safety and security information. The goal of Sentinel is to streamline school safety processes at the local, regional, and state levels. 

Sentinel is comprised of these primary components:

Statewide Programs - school safety initiatives required by state statute and under the purview of TEA’s Office of School Safety and Security which include:

1. Intruder Detection Audits
2. Behavioral Threat Assessments
3. District Vulnerability Assessment
4. Emergency Management
5. Data Integration - connecting data from multiple sources across an organization to provide a complete, accurate, and current dataset for data analysis and other applications and business processes;
6. Tools and Resources - elements or components of the systems that the user can interact with or use to gain a better understanding of their work; and
7. System Supports - elements and processes designed to facilitate the functioning, optimization, and automation of the system.

The functionality of Sentinel is expected to evolve over time, but Superintendents, School Safety Directors, Campus Principals, Counselors, and so many others can be excited at the idea of having their school’s safety data in one secure place. Here at Region 7 ESC, we are tasked with staying up-to-date on the new functionalities within Sentinel. Participants of our school safety workshops can expect this to be a hot topic throughout the year. We can and will provide feedback, ask questions, and suggest new functions directly to our TEA partners at The Office of School Safety. Texas is leading the way in school safety initiatives, funding, and innovation in the country, and Region 7 is proud to have a seat at the table.

(Pictured: New Summerfield staff participating in Active Threat Response Training)

Region 7 offers support and services through our School Safety Cooperative. 

Professional development on Emergency Management, Behavior Threat Assessments, Legislative Updates, Standard Response Protocol, Standard Reunification Method, Teen Issues, School Safety Grants, Active Threat Preparedness, and more. 
On-site or remote technical assistance on school safety grant funding, compliance reporting, Emergency Operations Plans, District Vulnerability Assessments, Safety Audits, and more. Each LEA member of our Coop has the opportunity for us to complete their required 3-year external safety audit for no additional cost. 

75 Region 7 Schools are members of the School Safety Cooperative!

15 Region 7 School Districts participated in ALICE an Active Event Response Training during the 2023-2024 year as a whole staff.

16 Region 7 School Districts are planning to participate in our new ATP(Active Threat Preparedness Training) this school year!