State agencies are asking the Legislature for $100 million for school safety

State agencies are asking the Legislature for more than $200 million during the next two-year budget to improve school safety and mental health services for young people.

Education Commissioner Mike Morath told the Texas House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday that the largest chunk of the $54.5 million the Texas Education Agency is requesting would go toward grants that school districts could use to help expand students’ access to trauma-informed counseling and mental health telemedicine.

The agency also is asking for money to hire more professionals at the regional Education Service Centers and to hire six people at the agency to address school safety. Currently, the agency has a part-time employee who focuses on school safety.

“I have no doubt that we’re going to do something next session on this issue. My concern would be ... how do you maximize the resources that we are going to expend,” said state Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston.

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/news/20181009/state-agencies-are-asking-legislature-for-100-million-for-school-safety