GOV. ABBOTT TO SURVEY TEACHERS ON SCHOOL SAFETY

  

Texas Governor Greg Abbott intends to send surveys to over 500,000 educators across the state, asking them what the state needs to do to keep schools safe and prepared to prevent school shootings.

Abbott earlier this week announced the School Safety and Victims’ Services Research Survey, which, according to the Governor, will use results for a needs assessment on school safety. The results will help lawmakers find ways that the state can support the needs of educators regarding safety, mental health, and violence in schools.

The survey and assessment will be administered by Sam Houston State University and the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University. Funding for the survey has been provided by the Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office.

The efforts are a continuation of the School and Firearm Safety Action Plan released by Abbott after the Santa Fe High School shooting in May 2018, which killed ten people and injured 13.

Abbott said the state “remains committed to ensuring our educators and campuses have the support they need to address safety, mental health, and threats of violence in our schools”. He said the survey is a crucial part of that commitment, and will assist in the state’s continued work to “secure our schools and proactively address mental health among our students”.

Abbott added he is grateful to Sam Houston State University and the Texas School Safety Center for their leadership in the initiative.

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Word was not given on where the surveys will be sent, whether results will be publicly available, or when the needs assessment will be completed.