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.

Principal can't appeal termination to commissioner

Feb 11, 2021

A principal was employed on an at-will basis at a charter school. The principal was notified that the charter school was terminating her employment…

Court denies unemployment to teacher discharged for misconduct

Jan 28, 2021

A teacher filed for unemployment benefits after his probationary contract with his school district was terminated at the end of its term. His…

Paraprofessional sues district, claims dismissal was in retaliation for complaint

Jan 14, 2021

A paraprofessional sued a school district after his contract was terminated, alleging that the district had discriminated against him based on sex…

Parents file suit over treatment of child in special education

Dec 11, 2020

Parents sued a school district following an incident with their child. At the time of the incident, the child was 10 and diagnosed with autism…

Teacher sues administrators, claims she was coerced into resigning

Nov 19, 2020

A teacher sued her campus principal and two assistant superintendents for attempting to coerce her into resigning from the district.

Student caught with drugs asks court to toss evidence

Nov 5, 2020

A student was arrested and charged with delinquent conduct for possession of a controlled substance on school property. The student requested that…

Paraprofessional files grievance over job change

Oct 22, 2020

A paraprofessional filed a grievance with her school district after her position as an office manager in the Food Services division was targeted for…

Firefighter claims First Amendment protects social media post

Oct 8, 2020

A firefighter sued the Houston Fire Department after he was transferred and suspended as the result of a post he made on social media. The post was…

What Happens if I Resign Now?

Oct 8, 2020

The deadline to resign from a Chapter 21 contract has passed and educators are dealing with continuously changing patterns of COVID-19 risk, varying…

Courts dismiss 7th grader's suit over sexual harassment

Sep 23, 2020

A seventh grader sued her school district, claiming that it had failed to protect her from sexual harassment from other students. The student claimed…