Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, & Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program

The Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program was established in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. In its initial report, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission found that having guardians in schools is the best way to ensure highly trained personnel are in place to respond immediately in the event of a school shooting.

• Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program (PDF)
• Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program (PPT)

The 2019 Legislature expanded the guardian program to include Class D and G licensed security guards as well as certain school district or charter school employees who volunteer to participate in the program.

State funds are granted to participating Sheriff’s offices to cover the screening and training costs for each school district or charter school guardian. Additionally, district and charter school employees receive a one-time stipend of $500 for serving in the program.

The 2023 Legislature passed House Bill 543 which allows private schools to have the opportunity to participate in the guardian program. Private schools are responsible for all training costs.

For schools in need of Guardians, but located in districts that do not have a Guardian program, those schools may arrange for training with another sheriff’s office that has established a Guardian program.

Please contact your local sheriff’s office or superintendent for more information regarding upcoming trainings and becoming a guardian.

Currently, the 53 counties listed below are participating in the Guardian Program. The Florida Department of Education continues to work with school districts and Sheriffs’ Offices who are interested in joining the program, and this list will be updated to reflect any additional changes.

• Alachua
• Baker
• Bay
• Bradford
• Brevard
• Broward
• Charlotte
• Citrus
• Clay
• Dixie
• Duval
• Escambia
• Franklin
• Gadsden
• Gilchrist
• Glades
• Gulf
• Hamilton
• Hendry
• Hernando
• Highlands
• Hillsborough
• Holmes
• Jackson
• Lafayette
• Lake
• Lee
• Leon
• Levy
• Liberty
• Madison
• Manatee
• Marion
• Martin
• Miami-Dade
• Nassau
• Okaloosa
• Okeechobee
• Orange
• Osceola
• Palm Beach
• Pasco
• Pinellas
• Polk
• Putnam
• Santa Rosa
• Sarasota
• Sumter
• Suwannee
• Taylor
• Volusia
• Wakulla
• Walton