The Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) School Safety Standards create minimum safety standards and support grant opportunities for all Texas School District facilities.
According to the plan, all Texas School Districts must install security window film on glass windows and doors and can procure state funding to do so. But it must be done quickly. Districts are required to source a contractor by August 2023 and certify compliance by the beginning of the 2023 school year.
If you’re a school district leader in Texas, here’s what you need to know and how you can ensure you quickly procure the grant money, source authorized contractors, and meet compliance with school safety regulations.
1. Security Window Film is Required on Glass Windows and Doors
The Texas Education Agency’s School Safety Standards Proposed Rule Summary requires that:
“Windowed doors on the ground level or windows that are adjacent to or near a door and are large enough to allow someone to enter if broken must be reinforced with entry-resistant film unless within a secured area.”
Never heard of safety and security window film before? Here are some of the high-level benefits of security window film:
- Delays unwanted intruders from entering through glass, giving more time to first responders
- Hardens glass against bomb blasts, petrochemical, windstorm, and seismic events
- Contains “spall” – the flying pieces of glass that can cause fatal harm to anyone present
- Can reduce visibility from the outside, if a tinted version is installed (though security window film can be completely clear, too)
Want to see security film in action? Check out the live demonstration we recently conducted with Houston ISD in Texas:
Want to learn more about security window film? Register for our upcoming our webinar, “Defend Your Glass: How to Protect Your Building’s Weakest Points.”
2. Texas is Providing Grant Funding to Install Security Window Film in School Buildings
The State of Texas Legislative Budget Board approved $400,000,000 to assist school districts in “replacing or upgrading doors, windows, fencing, communications, and other safety measures” to get compliant with the new Texas school safety standards established in November of 2022.
You can visit TEA’s website for more information, but we’ve compiled links to the pertinent documents, for ease of reference:
- Texas State Legislature Approved Budget (see page 4 for language on the $400mm grant)
- TEA School Safety Webpage
- TEA School Safety Updates (see page 4 for details about security window film)
Visit our Grant Assistance page to learn more about how we can help.
3. The Deadline to Procure a Security Window Film Installer is August 2024
Texas government officials have no time to waste ensuring all school facilities in the state have implemented their new requirements. This means school districts have a tight timeframe: the deadline to have a security window film contractor procured is August 2024, and school systems must certify requirements are met at the beginning of the 2024 school year.
Never worked with a window film contractor before? Unsure where to go to find one you can trust? Read our blog, “What to Look for in a Security Window Film Contractor.”
But don’t take our word for it. We’ve worked with over 91 school districts in Texas, and more than 175 nationwide. We recently interviewed some of them, and here’s what they had to say about security window film and working with NGS:
Protect Students and Staff and Ensure Compliance with Security Window film from NGS
NGS is the largest security film installer in the United States and the leading 3M security window film dealer-installer in Texas. Additionally, our EDGAR-compliant contracting vehicles (GSA, TIPS-USA, PCA, and Equalis) can help you streamline the procurement process by not having to go out to bid. Plus, we offer building perimeter security surveys utilizing our proprietary software that mirrors the Federal Commission on School Safety’s zoned approach.
Ready to work with the most experienced and qualified security window film contractor in Texas to achieve your compliance requirements on time?
Book a meeting with one of our school safety experts, today!
Feature Image by Pete Alexopoulos
