Texas school visitor management law

What does Texas require for school visitors?

Each district board "shall adopt a policy" on what a campus does when a visitor is identified as a sex offender. A district may require anyone entering district property to show a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID. This is allowed, not required. A district may check whether a visitor is a registered sex offender in the state database or any other database it can access. This is also allowed, not required. A district may keep an electronic database of campus visitors, used only for district security and never sold or given to third parties. The visitor section, Education Code § 38.022, was last amended by HB 3, effective September 1, 2023.

What happens when a district refuses entry?

A district peace officer, among others, may refuse to let a person enter, or may remove them, in specified circumstances. The district must keep a record of each verbal warning, with the person's name and the date. It must give the person written information explaining the appeal process. A refusal or removal may not last longer than two years. If a parent or guardian is refused entry, the district must make arrangements so they can still take part in their child's ARD (special education) and Section 504 meetings. Each district must post a notice about this law, including the appeal process, on its website, and each campus on any website it has. Section 37.105 was amended by SB 2929, effective May 27, 2025.

What do entrances and doors need?

By statute, a district must make sure each facility meets the safety and security standards adopted by rule. Under that rule, each school system must apply its standards to every instructional facility it owns, operates or leases. Unless a secure vestibule is present, the primary entrance must let someone inside see a person seeking entry while it is closed and locked, have a physical barrier that stops a visitor getting in unassisted, and have a spot for visitor check-in and check-out. A secure vestibule is a secured space with two or more sets of doors and an office sign-in area; its interior doors unlock only once the visitor has been visually verified. All exterior doors must be closed, latched and locked, with listed exceptions. A door may be unlocked only if it is actively monitored or inside an exterior secured area. "Actively monitored" means an adult who can see visitors before they enter and can close or lock the door right away. Exterior doors must close and lock on their own after each entry or exit. Doors keyed for re-entry must open with a single master key or a small set of them, whether a physical key, punch code or key fob. Where exterior doors can be locked remotely, the required panic alert system must lock them automatically. The board's policy must require at least weekly checks, during school hours, that all exterior doors are closed, latched and locked. The policy must also state that nothing in it discourages verified, authorized parents from visiting campuses.

Who is covered?

The rule covers public independent school districts and public open-enrollment charter schools. The facility safety and security requirements in the statute also apply to open-enrollment charter schools.

When did it take effect, and what are the deadlines?

The TEA rule, 19 TAC § 103.1215, took effect September 1, 2026. Beginning August 1, 2026, school systems must certify in Sentinel (TEA's reporting system) that security reviews were done. Systems must run maintenance checks on the required door and entrance parts at least twice a year, and certify compliance every year as part of their security audits. A district that cannot bring a facility up to a standard may claim a good cause exception, which expires five years after it is claimed.

How can schools pay for it?

School safety allotment money must go to safety and security costs, which can include securing facilities under the state standards and primary and secondary locking systems. The allotment includes $20 for each student in average daily attendance, plus an adjustment, and $33,540 per campus.