Schools On Target has been serving Texas schools since 2005 with safety & security consulting and services. Our Founder, Jeff Sellers created the Texas School Guardian Program in 2009 after his son was involved in an active shooter incident.
Why are school guardians needed? Watch Video
Our program set the standard for training and our basic training class is now required to carry on a campus.
We offer two programs that allow school staff to provide a defensive approach to an active shooter on a campus. Our training is conducted on our private ranch outside of Marble Falls, Texas. Both programs incorporate ALERRT, CQB and other defensive based training using dynamic shooting and meet HB3 requirements for an armed person on a campus. Our instructors meet Texas Admin. code 6.62 and Govt. code 411.1901 requirement under HB3 and are trained and licensed by Texas DPS. Experience Matters! Our firearms instructors have years of school safety & security experience unlike other firearms trainers, plus our founder started the School Guardian Program. You wont find a more experienced and dedicated team to train your staff.
All class participants are required to have a valid Texas License To Carry (LTC) prior to taking any of our training.
Our training includes techniques to protect students by using deadly force against an active shooter. An active shooter is an enemy. We define combat as fighting between two armed forces. Using deadly force against an enemy (active shooter) who is firing his/her weapon is combat. Combat has been used for centuries for offensive and defensive purposes.
This is not the School Marshal program. The Marshall program is mostly law enforcement based and does not allow Marshals to carry deadly force ammunition, which places staff at risk of being shot and provide no force to stop an active shooter. In addition the Marshal program only has a 70% qualification requirement vs. the 90% requirement under the Guardian program. The Marhsal program is also expensive has a waiting list and is expensive.
A semi-auto handgun is required for classes. Revolvers are not permitted in class. Handgun must be at least a .380 semi-auto handgun. Iron sights must be used for qualification. Rifle caliber handguns are not permitted. Ammo must meet SAMMI specs. No monolithic copper alloy ammo is allowed, only fmj. Guardian students must have experience operating and shooting a semi-automatic handgun. This is not a program for new shooters.
Short Video on Program Firearms Training
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TEXAS DPS SCHOOL SAFETY CERTIFICATION COURSE (2-days, 16 hours)
In 2017, DPS began providing a basic training class to school staff members who hold a valid Texas LTC. DPS realizes that law enforcement may not be able to reach a school in time to mitigate a school shooting quickly. The purpose of this program is to provide school staff training to stop an active shooter on a campus. This program meets the new campus security requirements in HB3, HB13. (Texas Education Code 37.0814 exemption)
The DPS school Safety Certification provides classroom and firearms training to school staff members by DPS trained and licensed firearms instructors under (Govt. Code 411.1901) over two days (16-18 hours).
Staff can include teachers, administration, maintenance, security, office and any school staff member. Those who desire to take this class must have at the very least good basic handgun skills. New shooters will not do well in this class and are likely to fail due to the high testing and shooting requirements. This class requires that participants have a valid Texas LTC (License To Carry). Training requires 400 rounds of FMJ target ammunition. We limit our classes to 6 people for the DPS program. All training is CQC (Close Quarter Combat) training.
Shooters must score 90% on the handgun qualification om a B27 target and obtain 90% on a written test.
COST: $1,500. per person not including ammo. Lunches and drinks provided. Each person must have an OWB holster, OWB magazine pouch, electronic hearing and eye protection. Ammunition must meet SAMMI specs. No steel cased ammo is permitted.
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Seekers vs Classroom defenders: Guardian seekers are staff members who will seek out an active shooter threat to stop the threat. Classroom defenders stay with their class and protect students in the classroom. We strongly encourage seekers who are in schools with long or unreliable response times to go through our SRT (Special Response Team Training).
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TEXAS SCHOOL GUARDIAN PROGRAM (Guardian Plan - 40 to 80 hours)
The "Guardian Plan" is the Texas School Guardian Program and was developed and by Jeff Sellers in 2009. Our goal is to ensure a standard of service and training for Texas schools. Jeff developed the program after his son was involved in an active shooter event. At the time the program was created there was no standard for training for schools who desired staff to carry handguns concealed on campus. Our training is for the critical period, which is the time from when a shooting begins until law enforcement arrive. This is not the Marshall program, it's much better. Those who qualify to take the class must already have their Texas LTC. The program also includes the above 2 day DPS class and far exceeds the DPS requirements providing school staff members (Govt. Code 411.1901) an array of knowledge. The sole purpose of this program is to protect students and staff against an active shooter on a campus, time is essential,time to lockdown, time to respond. Those who participate in this program will also receive Texas DPS School Safety certification. Full Guardian training requires 1,200 rounds of FMJ target ammunition. This program meets the campus security requirements in HB3, HB13. A full background check and MMPI evaluation is required to be a full guardian. All training is CQC (Close Quarter Combat) training.
Our Guardian Program provides much more training and has strict requirements to be considered. Each each potential Guardian is required to have an MMPI psychological evaluation.
A min. of 40 hours of training is required. Some people may have more advanced firearms training therefor we offer several classes to meet the 40 hours requirement. It is up to the school to determine what level is needed but we can assist. We can also assist be evaluating the students when they are taking our initial class.
40 Hour Texas School Guardian Training Outline
All 40 hours are not required at one time. We require 16 hours (2 days) to complete the DPS school safety certification to be the first class completed. The additional 24 hours of training must be taken within 24 months of the DPS class. The remaining 24 hours includes intermediate and advanced handgun training, trauma informed care, gun shot wound care, mental toughness. Guardians will shoot 1,200 rounds.
COST: $3,800. per person not including ammo.
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Additional Training
We can provide any level of training or continued training. We look at training as building a cake one layer at a time. You can never have too much training therefor the cake will never be finished.
REALITY BASED SIM TRAINING
8 hours Scenario Training - live sim rounds scenario training on campus for all guardians. We do two 4 hours sessions, each session can have up to 8 guardians. We can also do each session at a different campus. If you have a relationship with a law enforcement agency, they may be able to provide this training for you. If not we can provide it. This is critical training and is required in order to evaluate students under duress. SIM Training Video COST: $4,200. per day total + travel
Reality Based Training Includes:
SRAS - Solo Response to an Active Shooter, TRAS - Team Response to an Active Shooter,
CASR - Combined Active Shooter Response (Guardian & law enforcement)
ONE DAY CLASSES for Continuing Education
Intermediate 1
Intermediate 2
Advanced 1
Advanced 2
SRT - Special Response Team Training - 6 person limit
The SRT training is a 16 hour class and includes advanced handgun and combination of handgun and rifle. SRT team members are required to have a rifle and handgun for this class. Members must qualify on an FBI Q target and obtain a score of at least 45 out of 50 with a rifle and handgun. SRT (Special response team) training video
Students will need 250 rifle rounds and 250 handgun rounds, all fmj.
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Annual Training Program
Many schools hire us on an annual basis for continued training to ensure Guardians stay proficient.
Annual 24 hours worth of training - Fall, Winter, Spring training 8 hrs each, in some cases we can come to you. Most ranges do not allow us to conduct close quarter combat, drawing from holsters and steel target shooting.
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School staff are the most dedicated to students, know the school layout and are already employed by the school. Guardians are volunteers who step up to serve in this role. We also help school districts set up their program. This includes how to select candidates, MMPI psychological evaluation and continued training which includes regular range time, on-site scenario drills with sim rounds and an annual re-qualification and continuing education.
The public has a misconception that schools are handing teachers a gun and providing training. This is not the case, in fact most of our Guardians are administration, coaches, support staff and security staff. Not every staff member can be a Guardian. It take mental toughness and experience with firearms. Our program provides more training than most city police academies require and has a higher qualification requirement. Most of our schools with campus law enforcement presence or departments in the districts cities join their school Guardians in an effort to build a team and to help train throughout the year.
The Guardian Program is 100% District/School Controlled with the exception of required firearms training. Focus is on one goal, stopping a shooter with deadly force. The Texas School Guardian Program is unique and provides school districts the opportunity to include as much training for Guardians as they want. It can be customized for your district's needs. Guardians are not security. Guardians are for one purpose only which is to defend against an active shooter on a campus.
As part of the Guardian Program, we need buy in from the school district to ensure Guardians are prepared as possible and your campuses are as prepared as possible. Our program works well when we are allowed to assist in selecting the number of Guardians on a campus and their placement which is based on staff position type. All school staff are eligible to participate in this volunteer program.
The amount of Guardians on a campus is based on campus layout, number of buildings, number of students and staff. In addition, we like our Guardians to work in teams of at least two. This provides a better chance of stopping the shooter. Campuses must prepare as well to assist Guardians in stopping a threat.
It is extremely important to have regular safety & security audits and an updated an compliant EOP in which your staff is trained to implement protocols outlined in the EOP.
If your school is participating in our full Guardian Program, a MMPI Psychological Evaluation is required - We utilize Dr. Jan Mustin out of Lakeway, Texas. 512-347-8100. She can do remote evaluations. Contact us for the required return form.
Texas School Guardian Informational Video
Handgun Selection Guide
