Senate discusses House discipline bill

The Senate K-16 Education Committee met May 8 to discuss several House bills, among them HB 6 by Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano), sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock). TCTA testified in support of the bill when it was heard in the House Public Education Committee, and was again invited to support it in the Senate. 

Laying out the bill, Perry explained that he incorporated some provisions in one of his discipline bills, SB 1871, specifically that students who assault teachers must be sent to a JJAEP and that he would make some accommodations regarding current law on mandatory DAEP placements for students who bring vape pens to school. Chair Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) underlined the need for student discipline reforms in light of the increasing frequency of severe incidents at schools post-COVID. 

Democratic Sens. José Menéndez (D-San Antonio) and Royce West (D-Dallas) asked for clarification on how the bill would affect younger students and students with disabilities. Perry assured them that school districts would use discretion in exercising DAEP options for younger students and that students with disabilities would still retain their federal protections if HB 6 becomes law. There was wide agreement among the committee members that parents need to be more involved in the process to support the school in achieving lasting solutions for students with discipline problems.

TCTA's Director of Policy and Advocacy Paige Williams was invited by Perry to testify in support of the bill. She thanked Perry for sponsoring the bill to offer more tools to teachers and administrators to maintain order in the classroom. She also cited that, according to TEA, student discipline is the No. 1 reason that teachers leave the profession. 

Williams described the frequency with which she receives calls from members regarding student discipline and that a lack of administrative support undermines teachers' authority because students are often sent back to class without a meaningful consequence. She concluded by saying that flexibility for districts and restored authority for teachers are desperately needed.