Legal Updates | TCTA
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Gavel, law books and scales of justice

Legal Updates

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Issues related to public school employment and students sometimes must be resolved above the campus or district levels. Some cases go to the Texas commissioner of education or State Board for Educator Certification; others are decided by the courts. TCTA reports on cases of interest in our emailed eUpdate newsletter. You'll also find those reports below.

Registrar sues former district, citing discrimination over disability

Aug 12, 2021

A registrar sued her former school district, arguing that it had failed to provide reasonable accommodations to her and discriminated against her…

Understanding resignations for a promotion

Aug 6, 2021

Most teachers in Texas are employed by school districts under an employment contract that states that they may resign from the contract for the…

Student sues, claims teacher retaliated after she refused to say, write Pledge of Allegiance

Jul 29, 2021

A student sued her former sociology teacher, alleging that he violated her First Amendment rights by attempting to compel her to write the Pledge of…

Parents' request for video recordings from child's classroom denied

Jul 15, 2021

A student filed a complaint with the Texas Education Agency, alleging that a school district failed to comply with the Individuals With Disabilities…

Supreme Court backs cheerleader's right to free speech

Jul 1, 2021

A cheerleader failed to make the varsity cheer squad. While visiting a local convenience store over the weekend, she posted two images on Snapchat.…

SBEC sanctions teacher's certificate over contract abandonment

Jun 17, 2021

A complaint was filed with the State Board for Educator Certification, alleging that a teacher's certificate was subject to sanctions for contract…

Teachers in Dallas file grievance over appraisals

Jun 3, 2021

Several teachers in Dallas ISD filed a grievance regarding their appraisal. The district denied the grievances, claiming that they had not been filed…

Supreme Court weighs in on student's dismissal from law school

May 20, 2021

The Texas Supreme Court considered a lawsuit in which a university dismissed a law student for failure to maintain a 2.0 GPA. The issue in the case…

District violates law when reassigning principal to classroom

May 6, 2021

A principal filed a grievance, complaining about the district's decision to reassign her as a classroom teacher. The district's board of trustees…

Coach accused of improper relationships with gymnasts

Apr 23, 2021

A high school gymnastics coach was accused of having an improper relationship with a student, PV. The coach denied the allegation and wrote a…