Parent Resources
Threat Assessment Procedures
THREAT ASSESSMENT
Since the passing of Texas Senate Bill 11 (TEC; 37.115) in 2019, Texas joined one of the few states where it is now required by law for schools to have a Safe and Supportive School Program (SSSP) team that oversees a variety of student needs such as Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, Behavioral Threat Assessments, School Climate, and Emergency Planning and Implementation. As a part of the Safe and Supportive Schools Program (SSP), Rule ISD has a Behavioral Threat Assessment Team that is tasked with conducting behavioral threat assessments and determining the best course of action to support an individual who made a threat and the victims of the threat. Harmful, threatening, or violent behavior includes behaviors, such as verbal threats, threats of self-harm, bullying, cyberbullying, fighting, the use or possession of a weapon, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, stalking, or assault.
CONDUCTING THREAT ASSESSMENTS
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §37.115(f)(1), the SSSP team must conduct threat assessments, determine the level of risk, and provide interventions to support the individual for whom the threat assessment was conducted and the victim of the threat.
- Threat assessments are intended to prevent targeted violence. It involves assessment and intervention.
- The threat assessment process is centered upon the analysis of the facts and evidence of behavior or communication in a given situation that might suggest an individual intends to mount an attack and/or is engaged in planning or preparing for that event.
IDENTIFY AND REPORT A THREAT
In order to maintain a safe and orderly school environment, all school personnel and students have the responsibility to report student threats of violence to school administration. Our program’s framework promotes active involvement from our staff, students, parents and the community because safety and security impacts everyone. We encourage active involvement by asking all stakeholders to report any threats or concerns they see and hear through our Rule ISD Tip Line.
All reported incidences are investigated for potentially harmful or lethal behavior. Investigations will determine the level of concern, assess required action and organize any necessary resources and student support strategies.
INQUIRE AND INVESTIGATE
The SSSP team is responsible for collecting and analyzing harmful, threatening, and violent behavior; assessing threat and risk levels; and determining appropriate interventions. The Texas Education Code lists the following as "harmful, threatening, or violent" behaviors:
- Verbal threats
- Threats of self-harm
- Bullying
- Cyberbullying
- Fighting
- Use of or possession of a weapon
- Sexual assault
- Sexual harassment
- Dating violence
- Stalking
- Assault
When an individual or situation is brought to their attention, the SSSP team reviews the reported or observed behavior, investigates to determine whether it poses a threat based on facts, and decides what resources the individual might benefit from. Resources are identified for the person of concern and any targets or victims.
Per federal law the district cannot disclose personally identifiable information (PII) in their notice to parents. While we completely understand the parent’s perspective in wanting to know exactly what the threat entailed, as a district we are prohibited from disclosing personally identifiable information under FERPA. We assure you we will provide as much information as possible while maintaining legal compliance.
Report a Student Safety Concern Link
Title IX
Title IX concerns should be made to the Title IX Coordinator or to other administrators who report to the Superintendent. Reports can be made by phone, email, website online report form, or in person. Reports may also be made anonymously. However, employees who are responsible employees (mandatory reporters) and may not file a report anonymously. Reports will be forwarded to the appropriate office.
Victim/survivors have the right to report without further participation in any investigation. If a victim/survivor chooses to report, a school administrator can assist. The District will make available interim measures, such as accommodations, regardless of whether the victim/survivor chooses to report to police or to Rule ISD.
Retaliation for filing a report or participating in an investigation is not tolerated at Rule ISD.
The District will do its best to honor the victim/survivor's request for confidentiality, however, confidentiality is not guaranteed. Most District employees are considered "responsible employees" meaning they are mandated to report Title IX allegations to the Title IX Coordinator. The District may need to act to maintain campus safety and must determine whether to investigate further, even if the victim/survivor requests to remain confidential or requests the District not to investigate further.
While a victim/survivor’s conversation will be kept private (will not be shared unnecessarily with others), only a conversation with a confidential resource can be kept confidential (meaning a victim/survivors identity will not be shared with anyone without the express written consent of the victim/survivor).
Confidential resources are still required to report non-personal identifying information about the incident to the Title IX Coordinator. Confidential resources may include Counseling and Health Services in certain situations.
STAAR Links
What Families Should Know About STAAR (English)
What Families Should Know About STAAR (Spanish)
Parent Portal to Check STAAR Scores
The Parent and Family Engagement Connection Newsletter (Spanish)
The Parent and Family Engagement Connection Newsletter (English)
Raptor Visitor Management System
Rule ISD Traumatic Injury Response Protocol
Rule ISD Unassigned Epinephrine Anaphylaxis Policy
Rule ISD Antagonist/Narcan Policy
Rule ISD School Safety Door checking Policy
LINK: Rule ISD Standard Response Protocol
LINK: Standard Response Unification Method
LINK: Standard Response Process
Rule ISD Inclement Weather Procedures
Rule ISD would like to remind staff and parents of our procedures regarding severe weather. The district considers the safety of our students and staff a top priority and will always respond first to the immediate emergency. After ensuring the safety of our Bobcats, our next priority will be communication with parents. Parents may not receive an immediate storm communication while the district manages the actual emergency.
District school officials regularly monitor The National Weather Service and local television and radio stations for any potential storm alerts or risks. Communication to staff is done well in advance of approaching storms and conditions are monitored regularly for potential threats to students on field trips and out of the RISD area. School officials have open lines of communication with Rule VFD and Haskell County Public Safety, and follows DPS fire and police recommendations for duck and cover (in-shelter) storm procedures.
Parents are asked not to come to school buildings in the middle of a storm to pick up their children. Please let school officials effectively respond during a weather emergency and tune in to the RISD communication outlets listed below for updates and important announcements. In the event severe weather is approaching, RISD will account for students and staff in a secure location and then communicate updates to parents using the following:
Emergency Notification System: Weather-related school closings and delays will be communicated to employees and parents via the Remind app, social media, and school PA announcements. To update your emergency contact information, please contact the school with the information so that it can be changed in our database.
District Website & Social Media: When the situation permits, the district will also post closings to the district's website and Facebook page.
Radio & Television Announcements: Official announcements during inclement weather will still be made on KVRP 97.1, KTXS Abilene Channel 7, KTAB News Channel 32
Steps by Rule ISD to announce weather alerts:
- Respond to emergency internally by communicating with staff and securing students
- Website/Facebook alerts
- Communicate with parents via Remind notification system
Questions about district procedures may be directed to the Principal or Superintendent's Office at 940-997-2246.
Rule ISD Safety & Security Committee
The Rule SD Safety & Security Committee will periodically provide recommendations to the district's Board of Trustees and district administrators regarding updating multi-hazard emergency operations plan, consult with local law enforcement agencies on methods to increase law enforcement presence near district campuses and meet at least once during each academic semester and at least once during the summer. A committee established by a school district that operates schools on a year-round system or in accordance with another alternative schedule shall meet at least three times during each calendar year, with an interval of at least two months between each meeting.
The Rule ISD Safety & Security Committee must include:
- one or more representatives of an office of emergency management of a county or city in which the district is located;
- one or more representatives of the local police department or sheriff's office;
- one or more representatives of the district's police department, if applicable;
- the president of the district's board of trustees;
- a member of the district's board of trustees other than the president;
- the district's superintendent;
- one or more designee, two parents or guardians of students enrolled in the district, of the district's superintendent, one of whom must be a classroom teacher in the district;
- two parents or guardians of students enrolled in the district.
Rule ISD - Safe Storage:
- As required by Texas Education Code 37.222, the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC), in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), is providing each school district and open-enrollment charter school information and resources regarding the safe storage of firearms including information on section 46.13 of the Texas Penal Code. Districts must provide this information to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district or school.
Links Coming Soon:
Meeting Agenda and Minutes
Committee Members
Policy Legal CK
