Laws and Rules

The Texas Education Agency administers the laws and rules that govern education in the state. This page provides information on existing laws and rules, the process by which rules are adopted, and the enforcement of those rules. Special Education Special Education in Texas is subject to a specific set of state and federal rules and regulations. This page includes information on special education laws dictated by federal law the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act , State Board of Education rules, commissioner’s rules, and state laws. Proposed Commissioner Rules This page provides links to all proposed new rules, proposed amendments to existing rules, and proposed repeals approved by the Commissioner of Education and filed with the Texas Register. Proposed SBEC Rules This page provides links to all proposed new rules, proposed amendments to existing rules, and proposed repeals approved by the State Board for Educator Certification and filed with the Texas Register. Texas Education Code outside source The Texas Education Code includes all laws and rules passed by the state legislature. Texas Constitution and Statutes outside source Searchable index of all state codes and the Texas Constitution. Texas Administrative Code outside source Compilation of all state agency rules in Texas. Agency Finances.

School-Based Discipline

School Finance House Bill 3 by Rep. Dan Huberty and Sen. Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 3: Provides an early-education allotment for economically disadvantaged students and English language learners that can be used to fund full-day prekindergarten for eligible students and for professional development for early education teachers to get kids reading on grade level by third grade. Increased funding is also provided for students with dyslexia, students receiving special education services, and those being served in residential treatment facilities.

School corporal punishment is currently legal in 19 states, and over , children in these The Texas code thus allows school personnel to hit children with objects Interviews with corporally punished students make clear that some of the While two studies to date have examined the prevalence and predictors of.

UPPS No. It is the policy of Texas State University that employees with direct teaching, supervisory, advisory, or evaluative responsibility over other employees, students, or student employees recognize and respect the ethical and professional boundaries that must exist in such situations. While relationships between consenting adults are a personal matter, they can create potential conflicts in the workplace and in the educational setting.

Such relationships also have the potential for exploitation of an employee, student, or student employee and can possibly create professional or academic disadvantages for third parties. Consensual relationships between employees in positions of authority with their subordinates, including their students, are prohibited unless the person in the position of authority discloses the relationship immediately or as soon as possible.

The subordinate person is also encouraged to disclose the relationship; however, disclosure by the subordinate person does not relieve the employee in the position of authority of the duty to report immediately. The person in the position of authority in these consensual relationships should make the report to his or her immediate supervisor and cooperate in making alternative arrangements. These arrangements may include the reassignment of either party or other actions to change any conflict of interest or appearance of impropriety created because of duties associated with teaching, supervising, advising, evaluating, and grading.

Improper Relationships Between Educators and Students

Texans believe that protecting others—particularly those who cannot protect themselves—is a core personal value and a tenet of most faith traditions. And yet, many Texas children face discrimination, harassment, bullying, and homelessness. Protecting Youth. No child should fear going to school because of harassment.

Male teachers are especially vulnerable. What does the law say about relationships with a student? The Texas Penal Code Section provides the definition.

By Nanette Light and Brandi Grissom. Texas has cracked down on teachers who have sex and other inappropriate relationships with students. On Thursday, Texas Gov. The bill by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, and co-authored by all 30 senators is an attempt to stop what Bettencourt has called a “statewide plague. We cannot afford for these issues to be swept under the rug anymore,” Bettencourt said in March when senators unanimously passed the bill.

The legislation has been a priority for lawmakers, including Lt. Dan Patrick, as the number of educators accused of inappropriate relationships with students continues to rise. The Texas Education Agency reportedly opened investigations into inappropriate student-educator relationships in fiscal year

IMPROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TEACHER AND STUDENT

This page is updated daily. On August 20 , Gov. Read more. On August 4 , Gov.

do to discipline students. This article was written by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Reassignment: Student reassigned to another teacher. Community service​.

The following was included in TCTA’s Survival Guide , the ultimate reference tool for Texas educators, and is current as of September but is subject to change. The information below is for information purposes only, and is not intended to substitute for advice from an attorney. TCTA members with legal questions should call to speak with a staff attorney. Teachers are perceived as role models in the community, and the laws and regulations that mandate appropriate standards of conduct reflect that expectation.

Failure to comply with these standards can lead to adverse employment action, certification sanctions and criminal consequences. Sexual contact or indecent exposure with a minor is a felony that requires the perpetrator to register as a sex offender. It also is a felony for any school district employee to engage in a sexual relationship with a student, even if that student is of the legal age of consent. This prohibition includes students enrolled in schools where the teacher is not employed.

A person who is a member of the Teacher Retirement System and is convicted of certain felonies that involve sexual abuse of a student or minor will be ineligible to receive a service retirement annuity from the retirement system. In , lawmakers responded to concerns about educator misconduct by mandating that the Texas Education Agency shall maintain and make available through an internet portal a registry of persons not eligible for employment in a school district, district of innovation, open-enrollment charter school, or other charter entity, education service center, or shared services arrangement.

Private schools are provided access to the registry. Furthermore, new law provides that the person who is the subject of a report alleging specified misconduct the person was terminated or resigned and there is evidence the person abused or committed an unlawful act with a student or minor or was involved in a romantic relationship or solicited or engaged in sexual contact with a student or minor is entitled to a hearing on the merits of the allegations.

News & Information Related to COVID-19

School corporal punishment is currently legal in 19 states, and over , children in these states are subject to corporal punishment in schools each year. Given that the use of school corporal punishment is heavily concentrated in Southern states, and that the federal government has not included corporal punishment in its recent initiatives about improving school discipline, public knowledge of this issue is limited.

The aim of this policy report is to fill the gap in knowledge about school corporal punishment by describing the prevalence and geographic dispersion of corporal punishment in U. This policy report is the first-ever effort to describe the prevalence of and disparities in the use of school corporal punishment at the school and school-district levels.

We end the report by summarizing sources of concern about school corporal punishment, reviewing state policies related to school corporal punishment, and discussing the future of school corporal punishment in state and federal policy.

Corporal punishment, also referred to as “physical punishment” or “physical discipline,” is As of , a student is struck in a U.S. public school an average of once As of , corporal punishment is still legal in private schools in every U.S. For example, in Texas, teachers are permitted to paddle children and to use.

Imagine if a state enacted a law that wound up banning the use of the latest medical technology during a crisis. Practically speaking, that is what Texas has done in education. In , the state of Texas passed a law prohibiting any new public school districts from offering full-time online education. The law said only a handful of school districts who were already doing this could provide full-time online education in the future. Last year, several suburban districts asked for the moratorium to be lifted.

And for some rural districts, this law prevents them from efficiently offering a wider range of classes to their students. The moratorium was pushed by the education unions and brick-and-mortar school related vendors to prevent online schools from competing for students at their physical campuses, and because of concerns about the quality of some online schools.

As a result, this moratorium on education technology has kept Texas students way behind their peers in the rest of the country. In Texas, a state with 5. In Florida, a state with half as many students, more than 36, students are attending full-time online schools—and the state is working to dramatically increase its capacity so up to 2.

What Constitutes an Illegal Teacher and Student Relationship in the State of Texas?

Sex between teachers and students in Texas has been labeled an epidemic. Under Texas law, a sexual relationship between an educator and a student is prohibited. An educator can be convicted of an improper relationship with a student even if the relationship is consensual and even if the student is over 17 years old. If you or someone you know is suspected of having an improper relationship with a student or teacher, they should immediately speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Texas Homeschool Laws. On June 15, , after a Am I exempt from jury duty as a homeschool teacher? Yes, if your child is younger than.

The ongoing response to COVID continues to put school districts and individual educators in uncharted territory. Statewide school closures and distance learning models show how far Texas education law has evolved in the past 11 years, with technology enabling remote work and learning. The end of the school year provides a break from remote teaching but introduces new challenges as districts across the state grapple with summer needs and planning for the upcoming school year.

We will continue to update this information as the environment evolves. Readers should be aware that, as described below, many decisions are made locally. In addition, the situation can change rapidly. The information provided here is the best available at the time of posting and will be updated as circumstances warrant.

The answer is “not necessarily. But these protections only exist when the reporter has followed specific procedures required by the law. For instance, the report must be made to a governmental entity that has official responsibility for enforcing the law that was possibly violated. This determination can sometimes be complicated as it is not always clear what governmental entity has official authority to enforce a particular law. Reports posted on social media or shared with the media in general would not be protected as they are not directed to an appropriate enforcement entity.

Teachers and other staff should be aware a school district or district representative is generally not recognized as a proper law enforcement entity, so a report made to a principal, superintendent, or school board may not be protected.

UPPS 04.04.39 – Consensual Relationships

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

Textbooks selected for use in the public schools shall be furnished without cost to the students attending those schools.

Fowler Middle School teacher Patience LeBlanc documents by “candlelight” or leading students as a “We the People” Bar of Texas Law-Related Education where she works with teachers, Your browser is out-of-date.

State policy specifically permits. Any five-year-old child may be assigned to 1st grade is the local district determines it appropriate. Texas schools offer 4 assessment windows and assessment results are used to make whole-grade acceleration decisions. A student may take a specific examination only once during each window. The testing window must be designed to meet the needs of all students.

The dates must be publicized in the community. Section 3. Under 3. See the Texas State Plan for more information. The information presented on this page was compiled from a variety of resources, including the State of the States in Gifted Education a report by the Council of State Directors of Programs for the Gifted and the National Association for Gifted Children , Websites, professional literature, and personal communication.

The Acceleration Institute has not verified the accuracy of this information and does not warrant its accuracy or fitness of use for any purpose. Users should verify information prior to taking any action. Programs and resources are highlighted for informational purposes only.

Sex with students: Why more Texas teachers are getting caught

THSC has compiled the most commonly asked questions regarding requirements to homeschool in Texas here, just for you! Use the drop-down menu to navigate through the questions. We believe homeschooling is one of the best educational models and we hope that you find this resource helpful. Leeper issued a decision guaranteeing the right of Texas parents to teach their children at home without fear of prosecution.

The House passed Senate Bill 7, which would penalize principals and superintendents who purposely hide incidents of teachers having sexual.

This article can tell you about what schools can and cannot do to discipline students. Depending on the school district and the accusation, school authorities have several disciplinary options, including:. Due process includes the right to know the reason for punishment and an opportunity to tell his or her side of the story. The principal must schedule a conference within 3 class days after the expulsion, and must give notice to the student and parent of the date, time and location of the conference.

The principal should invite the student and parent to attend the conference. In some cases, the teacher who removed the student will also attend. At the conference, the principal will explain the reason for the removal and the student and parent will have a chance to tell their side of the story. If the parent s and student do not attend, the conference will be held without them. In some cases, the student or their parent has the right to appeal the decision of the administrator.

Students who are assigned to lengthy DAEP placements also have additional rights. If the decision is to expel the student, there must be another hearing with written notice to the parent s before the expulsion. The student has the right to be represented at the hearing by a parent, guardian, or lawyer. The student may also present evidence and witnesses for their side, including students and other teachers. If a student is facing a DAEP placement or expulsion, consider contacting a lawyer.

TEXAS TEEN GIRL FORCED TO DENY GOD BY TEACHER…. Then Appears Before the School Board !