This document addresses professional development incorporating suicide prevention.

(a) Each school district shall have a district improvement plan that is developed, evaluated, and revised annually, in accordance with district policy, by the superintendent with the assistance of the district-level committee established under Section 11.251. The purpose of the district improvement plan is to guide district and campus staff in the improvement of student performance for all student groups in order to attain state Standard in respect to the achievement indicators adopted under Section 39.053(c). The district improvement plan must include provisions for: (3) strategies for improvement of student performance that include: (B) evidence-based practices that address the needs of students for special programs, including: (i) suicide prevention programs, in accordance with Subchapter G, Chapter 38, which include a parental or guardian notification procedure.

(c) The local school health advisory council’s duties include recommending: (2) policies, procedures, strategies, and curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent physical health concerns, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and mental health concerns, including suicide.

(i) A team identifying a student at risk of suicide shall act in accordance with the district’s suicide prevention program. If the student at risk of suicide also makes a threat of violence to others, the team shall conduct a threat assessment in addition to actions taken in accordance with the district’s suicide prevention program.

(d) A school district may develop practices and procedures concerning each area listed in Subsection (a-1), including mental health promotion and intervention, substance abuse prevention and intervention, and suicide prevention, that:

• (1) include a procedure for providing notice of a recommendation for early mental health or substance abuse intervention regarding a student to a parent or guardian of the student within a reasonable amount of time after the identification of early warning signs as described by Subsection (b)(2);

• (2) include a procedure for providing notice of a student identified as at risk of committing suicide to a parent or guardian of the student within a reasonable amount of time after the identification of early warning signs as described by Subsection (b)(2);

• (3) establish that the district may develop a reporting mechanism and may designate at least one person to act as a liaison officer in the district for the purposes of identifying students in need of early mental health or substance abuse intervention or suicide prevention; and

• (4) set out available counseling alternatives for a parent or guardian to consider when their child is identified as possibly being in need of early mental health or substance abuse intervention or suicide prevention.

(a) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner shall provide to a school district an annual allotment in the amount provided by appropriation for each student in average daily attendance. (b) Funds allocated under this section must be used to improve school safety and security, including costs associated with: (4) providing programs related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.