Houston ISD’s state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles said the district is “moving at pace” to eventually comply with state-mandated guidelines to bolster school safety, with plans to have armed police officers staffed at around 100 of its 274 campuses next school year.
Passed in the wake of the Uvalde mass shooting, House Bill 3 requires all districts to comply with the Texas Education Agency’s School Safety Standards, which mandates a physical barrier — like a vestibule, camera system or other security method — at the primary entrance of all schools to prevent unrestricted visitor access. It also requires districts to have at least one armed security officer at all campuses, among other upgrades.
Several districts, including HISD, have filed exemptions citing a lack of funding and available officers statewide. In an October 2024 interview, HISD Chief of Police Shamara Garner said HISD Police have officers assigned to every middle and high school, but not every elementary school…