An Examination of Non-Law Enforcement Personnel in Texas K-12 Public School Districts

• In Event: Impact of the Texas Guardian Legislation

Abstract

Guardian Plans allow designated, non-law enforcement individuals working in a school environment to carry firearms to protect students and employees in the event of an active shooter incident. Findings from the 2020-2023 Texas School Safety and Security District Audit Report indicate that 417 out of 1,021 total districts reported having non-law enforcement security personnel. Guardians (n=224) were the most reported type of non-law enforcement security personnel employed by districts. Although a growing number of schools in Texas are utilizing Guardian Plans, little is known about how they function. In the present study, we surveyed all Texas K-12 Public School Districts (N = 1,021) to gather information on their Guardian Plans to get a better understanding of how Guardian Plans function in Texas school districts. The purpose of this exploratory project is to 1) determine the prevalence of guardians in each district, 2) verify the kind of training guardians receive, 3) identify guardian selection criteria, and 4) understand the level of awareness campus stakeholders have concerning guardians.

Authors

• Ashley Drinkard, Texas School Safety Center

• Lacette Wright, Texas School Safety Center

• Alison Jarzombek-Torralva, Texas School Safety Center

• Rachel Hall, Texas School Safety Center

• Marcie Murfield, Texas School Safety Center

• Valerie Barnes, Texas School Safety Center

• Kathy Martinez-Prather, Texas School Safety Center