Texas Schools Struggle To Meet Armed Officer Mandate Amid Funding Shortfalls

In 2023, Texas enacted House Bill 3 (HB 3), mandating that public school districts station an armed officer at each campus. To support this requirement, the law increased the annual school safety allotment to $10 per student and provided an additional $15,000 per campus. However, many districts argue that these funds are insufficient, estimating the actual cost at approximately $100 per student. Consequently, over half of Texas school districts have not met the armed officer mandate, with many citing financial constraints. As first reported by The Texas Tribune.

In response, during the current legislative session, lawmakers are considering proposals to boost school safety funding. Governor Greg Abbott has advocated for an additional $500 million investment in school safety. Both the House and Senate have proposed budgets that would increase school safety funding by $400 million over the next two years. 

“We would spend every penny we have protecting these kids, these staff and this community if we could,” said Zack Kleypas, superintendent of Thorndale Independent School District.

Under HB 3, a typical Texas elementary school with around 600 students would receive approximately $21,000 annually from the school safety allotment. However, this falls significantly short of the $60,000 to $70,000 that school officials estimate is needed each year to fund an armed guard, according to The Texas Tribune.

The implementation of HB 3 has also been challenged by a shortage of law enforcement personnel, making it difficult for districts to staff armed officers at all schools. Some districts have utilized programs like the Texas School Guardian Program, which allows safety-trained school employees to carry firearms, as a cost-effective alternative. 

“The School Marshal Plan was intended to give educators/employees armed law enforcement capabilities and responsibilities,” while “The School Safety Training, otherwise known as the Guardian Plan was intended to solely provide hand picked armed educators/employees the ability to defend themselves and students in the event of an Active Shooter or ‘Active Killer’” states  the School Safety Training about  the difference between the Marshal and Guardian Programs.

As districts navigate these challenges, the distinction between the School Marshal and Guardian Programs becomes increasingly relevant. The Marshal Program equips trained school employees with law enforcement authority, allowing them to make arrests and respond to threats in a more official capacity. In contrast, the Guardian Program focuses solely on self-defense, enabling selected staff members to carry firearms to protect themselves and students during an active shooter situation. These programs offer cost-effective alternatives for districts that cannot afford to hire full-time armed officers but still seek to enhance school security.

But despite the increased funding provided by HB 3, many Texas school districts struggle to meet the armed officer mandate due to financial constraints and a shortage of law enforcement personnel. While lawmakers are considering additional funding, districts have had to explore alternative solutions, such as the Texas School Guardian Program, to enhance campus security within their budget limitations.