FAQs

On September 15, 2022, the Texas Education Agency was awarded a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) Stronger Connections grant program. The BSCA was established to support the development of safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments in the nation’s schools. Under Title IV, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), funding was made available to state educational agencies (SEAs) to provide students with safer and healthier learning environments.

This program will focus on the establishment of a Texas Center for Student Supports that will provide guidance, training, and resources to the twenty regional ESCs to assist LEAs with establishing and implementing safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments through a student support team structure that meets each student’s mental health, behavioral and emotional health, and physical health needs and promotes overall student well-being.

Region 16 Education Service Center was awarded this grant in July 2023, which established the TCSS team as of August 2023.

TCSS will empower Texas schools to bridge consistent systems, supporting every facet of student success. The TCSS will establish and implement secure, inclusive, and supportive learning environments through a student support program structure tailored to meet the individual needs of each student, promoting their overall well-being.