Governor Abbott calls for immediate school safety review of Texas Public Schools

AUSTIN, Texas -- Governor Greg Abbott is calling for comprehensive school safety reviews at all Texas public schools.

Governor Abbott sent a letter to Dr. Kathy Martinez-Prather directing the Texas School Safety Center to begin conducting the reviews.

The letter also instructs the TxSSC to ensure all school districts' School Safety and Security Committees meet before the new school year to review their Emergency Operations Plan and address any campus safety needs.

Governor Abbott said the tragedy at Robb Elementary School requires us all to do more for school safety.

"I am charging the TxSSC, in coordination with the TEA, to develop and implement a plan to conduct random inspections to assess access control measures of Texas school districts. Among other reviews, your team should begin conducting in-person, unannounced, random intruder detection audits on school districts. Also, the TxSSC should immediately begin working with my office and the Legislature on recommendations to improve current security systems and determine the funding necessary to continue the work of hardening our schools against outside threats, " said Gov. Abbott.

Abbott is asking the TxSSC to provide a progress report of its finding to the Governor's office and the legislature by Oct. 1.