Texas Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

Texas

Compilation of School

Discipline Laws and

Regulations

Prepared: March 31, 2023

Texas Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

Introduction

This compilation presents school discipline-related laws and regulations for U.S. states, U.S. territories,

and the District of Columbia, and, where available, links to education agency websites or resources

related to school discipline and student conduct. The discipline laws and regulations presented in this

compilation have been categorized by type of specific discipline issue covered, according to an

organizational framework developed by the National Center for Safe and Supportive Learning

Environments (NCSSLE). For example, one major category encompasses all laws or regulations

governing states or territories that mandate specific disciplinary sanctions (such as suspension) for

specific offenses (such as drug possession on school grounds). The school discipline laws and

regulations were compiled through exhaustive searches of legislative websites that identified all laws

and regulations relevant to each specific category. Compiled materials were subsequently reviewed by

state education agency (SEA) representatives in the 50 states, Washington D.C., and the U.S.

territories.

Discipline categories were not mutually exclusive. Laws and regulations often appeared across multiple

categories. For jurisdictions with more extensive laws covering a breadth of topical areas, relevant

sections were excerpted from the larger legislative text for inclusion in the appropriate discipline category.

Laws, ordered by chapter and section number, appear first within each category followed by regulations.

All laws and regulations listed within categories in the compilation also appear in the sources cited

section of the document, which lists laws by chapter and section number and title, and where available,

includes active hyperlinks to source websites supported or maintained by state legislatures. Additional

links to government websites or resources are provided at the end of this document.

Notes & Disclaimers

To the best of the preparers knowledge, this Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations is

complete and current as of March 2023. Readers should also note that the information in this document

was compiled from individual sources that are created by each jurisdiction and which are maintained and

updated with varying frequencies. Readers should consult the source information provided directly in

order to check for updates to laws and regulations reported in this document or to conduct further

research.

For further information, including definitions of the different policy categories, please refer to the

Discipline Laws and Regulations Compendium posted on the Centers website.

Prepared by:

Texas Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

Table of Contents

Texas State Codes Cited ................................................................................................................................ 1

Codes of Conduct ........................................................................................................................................... 8

Authority to Develop and Establish Codes of Conduct ................................................................................. 8

Scope ............................................................................................................................................................ 9

Communication of Policy ............................................................................................................................. 10

In-School Discipline...................................................................................................................................... 11

Discipline Frameworks ................................................................................................................................ 11

Teacher Authority to Remove Students From Classrooms ........................................................................ 11

Alternatives to Suspension .......................................................................................................................... 12

Conditions on Use of Certain Forms of Discipline .................................................................................... 15

Corporal Punishment .................................................................................................................................. 15

Search and Seizure ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Restraint and Seclusion .............................................................................................................................. 16

Exclusionary Discipline: Suspension, Expulsion, and Alternative Placement ...................................... 22

Grounds for Suspension or Expulsion......................................................................................................... 22

Limitations or Conditions on Exclusionary Discipline .................................................................................. 29

Due Process ................................................................................................................................................ 32

Return to School Following Removal .......................................................................................................... 36

Alternative Placements ............................................................................................................................... 39

Discipline Addressing Specific Code of Conduct Violations ................................................................... 61

Firearms and Other Weapons Violations .................................................................................................... 61

Students with Chronic Disciplinary Issues .................................................................................................. 64

Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy ............................................................................................................. 64

Substance Use ............................................................................................................................................ 70

Gang-related Activity ................................................................................................................................... 75

Bullying, Harassment, or Hazing ................................................................................................................. 76

Dating and Relationship Violence ............................................................................................................... 86

Prevention, Behavioral Intervention, and Supports .................................................................................. 88

State Model Policies and Implementation Support ..................................................................................... 88

Multi-tiered Frameworks and Systems of Support ...................................................................................... 98

Prevention ................................................................................................................................................. 101

Social-emotional Learning (SEL) .............................................................................................................. 106

Trauma-informed Practices ....................................................................................................................... 108

Mental Health Literacy Training ................................................................................................................ 112

School-based Behavioral Health Programs .............................................................................................. 118

Monitoring and Accountability .................................................................................................................. 127

Formal Incident Reporting of Conduct Violations ...................................................................................... 127

Parental Notification .................................................................................................................................. 129

Data Collection, Review, and Reporting of Discipline Policies and Actions ............................................. 134

Texas Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

Partnerships between Schools and Law Enforcement ........................................................................... 142

Referrals to Law Enforcement................................................................................................................... 142

School Resource Officer (SRO) or School Security Officer (SSO) Training or Certification .................... 144

Authorizations, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), and/or Funding.................................................. 147

Threat Assessment Protocols ................................................................................................................... 151

State-Sponsored, Publicly Available Websites or Other Resources on School Discipline ................ 155

Texas Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

Texas State Codes Cited

Texas Revised Statutes

Civil Practice and Remedies Code

Title 6. Miscellaneous Provisions

Chapter 129A. Relief for Cyberbullying of Child

129A.001.

129A.002.

129A.003.

129A.004.

129A.005.

Definition

Injunctive relief

Promulgation of forms

Inapplicability

Certain conduct excepted

Code of Criminal Procedure

Title 1. Code of Criminal Procedure

Chapter 2. General Duties of Officers

2.127.

School marshals

Chapter 15. Arrest Under Warrant

15.27.

Notification to schools required

Education Code

Title 2. Public Education

Subtitle B. State and Regional Organization and Governance

Chapter 8. Regional education Service Centers

Subchapter E. Mental Health and Substance Use Resources For School District Personnel

8.155.

Regional education service center property

Subtitle C. Local Organizations and Governance

Chapter 11. School Districts

Subchapter F. District-Level and Decision Making

11.252.

District-level planning and decision-making

Subtitle D. Educators and School District Employees and Volunteers

Chapter 21. Educators

Subchapter A. General Provisions

21.044.

Educator preparation

21.054.

Continuing education

Subchapter J. Staff Development

21.451.

Staff development requirements

21.462.

Resources regarding students with mental health or substance abuse conditions

Texas Compilation of School Discipline Laws and Regulations

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