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Texas School Safety (Guardian Program) Certification –
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Texas School Safety (Guardian Program) Certification – Exam Coverage Summary (Point-Form)
The questions below are built exclusively on the content domains listed in this summary. No external
domains or general-knowledge sections are included.
• Legal & Regulatory Foundation: Texas Education Code §37.0814 (definition of school guardian
& written authorization requirement); Texas Government Code §411.1901 (DPS school safety
certification for instructors); Texas Penal Code §46.03(a)(1)(A) (exception for carrying firearms
with written authorization); SB 838 (identity reporting & confidentiality); HB 13 & HB 3
(guardian training requirements & grant programs).
• Guardian vs Marshal Program Distinctions: Guardian = more flexible, lower training threshold,
civilian focus; Marshal = 80-hour TCOLE training, first-responder role, TCOLE licensing &
oversight.
• Guardian Eligibility & Prerequisites: Current employee of a school district, open-enrollment
charter school, private school, or public junior college; valid Texas License To Carry (LTC); must
have completed training by a DPS-certified instructor under §411.1901.
• Training Content (Core DPS Topics): ① Protection of students; ② Interaction of license
holders with first responders; ③ Tactics for denying an intruder entry into a classroom or
school facility; ④ Methods for increasing accuracy with a handgun while under duress.
• Training Hours & Qualification Standards: Guardian training typically 16-40 hours depending on
district policy; written exam ≥90%; live-fire qualification ≥90% on LTC course (e.g., 225/250);
some districts require 1,100 rounds for full Guardian program.
• Firearms & Ammunition Requirements: Guardian must use firearm model/caliber approved by
superintendent; frangible duty ammunition required for Marshals but district policy varies for
Guardians; Serpa-style holsters prohibited.
• Psychological & Medical Fitness: Must pass psychological examination administered to law
enforcement personnel (e.g., MMPI); some districts also require agility/medical clearance.
• Active Threat Response Protocols: Guardians respond to active shooter events; coordinate with
first responders; ALERRT Level I training often incorporated; guardian role focuses on denial of
intruder entry into classrooms.
• Communication & Coordination with LEAs: Districts must report guardian identities to Texas
School Safety Center (TxSSC) and, upon written request, to local law enforcement;
confidentiality protection for identities; collaborative emergency planning recommended.
• Threat Assessment & Emergency Operations: Guardians may serve on Safe & Supportive School
Teams; assist with Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) development; coordinate emergency drills;
monitor extracurricular events.
• Ongoing Proficiency & Recertification: Guardians must requalify at shooting range at least
annually (some districts quarterly); annual training updates.
• Liability & District Policies: Districts adopt written regulations specifying guardian duties;
liability shield exists for guardian acting within approved training and policies; guardians
are not law enforcement officers.
• Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Care: HB 13 added requirement for mental health first aid
and trauma-informed care instruction for guardians.
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• Funding & Stipends: School guardians may receive stipends up to $25,000 per school year from
state appropriations.
• Confidentiality Provisions: Guardian identities are confidential and not subject to public
disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
Legal & Regulatory Foundation
1. A school board is drafting written regulations to authorize staff to carry firearms on campus. Under
Texas Education Code §37.0814, what is the minimum requirement for this authorization to be valid?
A) Approval by the local police chief
B) Written authorization adopted by the board that specifies weapons and locations
C) Verbal approval by the superintendent
D) A signed waiver from each student’s parent
Answer: B
Written regulations or written authorization by the school board is the statutory foundation for any
guardian program; without it, carrying on school premises is generally prohibited under Penal Code
§46.03.
2. The superintendent learns that a neighboring district allows guardians without requiring them to
report identities to the Texas School Safety Center. Under SB 838, which statement is correct?
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A) Reporting to TxSSC is voluntary for guardians
B) Districts must report guardian identities to TxSSC in the form and manner prescribed
C) Only school marshals must report to TxSSC
D) Identity reporting is required only after a shooting occurs
Answer: B
SB 838 requires districts that authorize guardians to report each guardian‘s identity to the Texas School
Safety Center and to local law enforcement upon written request.
3. A parent files an open records request under Chapter 552, Government Code, seeking the names of
all guardians at a public school. The district should:
A) Release the names immediately because school employees are public servants
B) Withhold the names because guardian identities are confidential and not subject to disclosure
C) Release only the names of guardians who have given written consent
D) Release the names to the parent but not to the media
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Answer: B
Information reported under SB 838 is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code, by a school district, TxSSC, or a law enforcement agency.
4. Which Texas Government Code section authorizes DPS to certify qualified handgun instructors in
school safety, establishing the four core training topics for guardians?
A) Texas Government Code §411.1901
B) Texas Education Code §37.0811
C) Texas Occupations Code §1701.260
D) Texas Penal Code §9.32
Answer: A
Government Code §411.1901 is the statutory basis for DPS school safety certification for qualified
handgun instructors, outlining the four required instructional areas.
5. A district adopts a guardian program but fails to include any mental health first aid instruction. Did HB
13 require that topic for guardian training?
A) No, mental health training applies only to school counselors
Texas School Safety (Guardian Program) Certification –
Exam ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST
UPDATE THIS YEAR
Texas School Safety (Guardian Program) Certification – Exam Coverage Summary (Point-Form)
The questions below are built exclusively on the content domains listed in this summary. No external
domains or general-knowledge sections are included.
• Legal & Regulatory Foundation: Texas Education Code §37.0814 (definition of school guardian
& written authorization requirement); Texas Government Code §411.1901 (DPS school safety
certification for instructors); Texas Penal Code §46.03(a)(1)(A) (exception for carrying firearms
with written authorization); SB 838 (identity reporting & confidentiality); HB 13 & HB 3
(guardian training requirements & grant programs).
• Guardian vs Marshal Program Distinctions: Guardian = more flexible, lower training threshold,
civilian focus; Marshal = 80-hour TCOLE training, first-responder role, TCOLE licensing &
oversight.
• Guardian Eligibility & Prerequisites: Current employee of a school district, open-enrollment
charter school, private school, or public junior college; valid Texas License To Carry (LTC); must
have completed training by a DPS-certified instructor under §411.1901.
• Training Content (Core DPS Topics): ① Protection of students; ② Interaction of license
holders with first responders; ③ Tactics for denying an intruder entry into a classroom or
school facility; ④ Methods for increasing accuracy with a handgun while under duress.
• Training Hours & Qualification Standards: Guardian training typically 16-40 hours depending on
district policy; written exam ≥90%; live-fire qualification ≥90% on LTC course (e.g., 225/250);
some districts require 1,100 rounds for full Guardian program.
• Firearms & Ammunition Requirements: Guardian must use firearm model/caliber approved by
superintendent; frangible duty ammunition required for Marshals but district policy varies for
Guardians; Serpa-style holsters prohibited.
• Psychological & Medical Fitness: Must pass psychological examination administered to law
enforcement personnel (e.g., MMPI); some districts also require agility/medical clearance.
• Active Threat Response Protocols: Guardians respond to active shooter events; coordinate with
first responders; ALERRT Level I training often incorporated; guardian role focuses on denial of
intruder entry into classrooms.
• Communication & Coordination with LEAs: Districts must report guardian identities to Texas
School Safety Center (TxSSC) and, upon written request, to local law enforcement;
confidentiality protection for identities; collaborative emergency planning recommended.
• Threat Assessment & Emergency Operations: Guardians may serve on Safe & Supportive School
Teams; assist with Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) development; coordinate emergency drills;
monitor extracurricular events.
• Ongoing Proficiency & Recertification: Guardians must requalify at shooting range at least
annually (some districts quarterly); annual training updates.
• Liability & District Policies: Districts adopt written regulations specifying guardian duties;
liability shield exists for guardian acting within approved training and policies; guardians
are not law enforcement officers.
• Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Care: HB 13 added requirement for mental health first aid
and trauma-informed care instruction for guardians.
, Page 2 of 171
• Funding & Stipends: School guardians may receive stipends up to $25,000 per school year from
state appropriations.
• Confidentiality Provisions: Guardian identities are confidential and not subject to public
disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
Legal & Regulatory Foundation
1. A school board is drafting written regulations to authorize staff to carry firearms on campus. Under
Texas Education Code §37.0814, what is the minimum requirement for this authorization to be valid?
A) Approval by the local police chief
B) Written authorization adopted by the board that specifies weapons and locations
C) Verbal approval by the superintendent
D) A signed waiver from each student’s parent
Answer: B
Written regulations or written authorization by the school board is the statutory foundation for any
guardian program; without it, carrying on school premises is generally prohibited under Penal Code
§46.03.
2. The superintendent learns that a neighboring district allows guardians without requiring them to
report identities to the Texas School Safety Center. Under SB 838, which statement is correct?
, Page 3 of 171
A) Reporting to TxSSC is voluntary for guardians
B) Districts must report guardian identities to TxSSC in the form and manner prescribed
C) Only school marshals must report to TxSSC
D) Identity reporting is required only after a shooting occurs
Answer: B
SB 838 requires districts that authorize guardians to report each guardian‘s identity to the Texas School
Safety Center and to local law enforcement upon written request.
3. A parent files an open records request under Chapter 552, Government Code, seeking the names of
all guardians at a public school. The district should:
A) Release the names immediately because school employees are public servants
B) Withhold the names because guardian identities are confidential and not subject to disclosure
C) Release only the names of guardians who have given written consent
D) Release the names to the parent but not to the media
, Page 4 of 171
Answer: B
Information reported under SB 838 is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,
Government Code, by a school district, TxSSC, or a law enforcement agency.
4. Which Texas Government Code section authorizes DPS to certify qualified handgun instructors in
school safety, establishing the four core training topics for guardians?
A) Texas Government Code §411.1901
B) Texas Education Code §37.0811
C) Texas Occupations Code §1701.260
D) Texas Penal Code §9.32
Answer: A
Government Code §411.1901 is the statutory basis for DPS school safety certification for qualified
handgun instructors, outlining the four required instructional areas.
5. A district adopts a guardian program but fails to include any mental health first aid instruction. Did HB
13 require that topic for guardian training?
A) No, mental health training applies only to school counselors
