TEXAS
Texas has 1,029 school districts and 9,355 public schools. During the 2019-2020 school year, there were 5,479,173 students enrolled in public schools in Texas. About 59% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. There is no explicit school climate survey for Texas schools. However, many policies address school climates such as anti-bullying, emergency planning, mental health resources, positive behavior programs, suicide prevention, providing for students with disabilities, family and community services, and a digital citizenship curriculum. There is a policy regarding character traits instruction where school districts consult with parents, educators, and other members of the community to develop programs that must stress positive character traits such as courage, respect, and integrity. Texas also has a required curriculum on mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and responsible decision-making.
Safety
There is currently no policy surrounding School Climate in Texas. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.0832 Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures.
Defines the terms of bullying and cyberbullying as well as behaviors associated with these actions.
Texas asks schools to develop and implement procedures to prevent bullying and harassment behavior and the consequences of such behavior. Policies also explain that procedures are needed for reporting an incidence of bullying and investigating it as well as how this policy will be communicated. This policy also covers conduct that occurs off school property.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.0832 Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.001 Student Code of Conduct.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.0052. Placement or Expulsion of Students Who Have Engaged in Certain Bullying Behavior.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.0832. Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures.
Texas anti-bullying laws cover conduct that occurs off-school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related activity if the cyberbullying interferes with students’ ability to learn, and disrupts the classroom and school management.
Texas Statutes Education Code 25.0342. Transfer of Students Who Are Victims of or Have Engaged in Bullying.
On the request of a parent or other person with authority to act on behalf of a student who is a victim of bullying, the board of trustees of a school district or the board’s designee shall transfer the victim to another classroom or another campus in the same school district. The same can be done for the student who engaged in bullying.
Who does this protect? Students, Teachers
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Texas schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.108 Multihazard Emergency Operations Plan; Safety and Security and Security Audit.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.207. Model Safety and Security Audit Procedure.
Texas Administrative Code 25 297.5 Building Operation and Maintenance Guidelines.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/texas/title-25/part-1/chapter-297/subchapter-a/section-297-5/
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.109 School Safety and Security Committee.
Each school district will have a school safety and security committee that will participate on behalf of the district in developing and implementing emergency plans consistent with the district multi-hazard emergency operations plan and supporting the district in any way they can by making recommendations.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.205 Safety Training Programs.
The Texas School Safety Center will conduct a school safety training program for each district. The program will include discussion of school safety issues with parents and community members, the development of a positive school environment, proactive safety measures designed to address local concerns, etc.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.114. Emergency Evacuations; Mandatory School Drills.
The commissioner, in consultation with the Texas School Safety Center and the state fire marshal, will provide procedures for evacuating and securing school property during an emergency and the number of mandatory school drills conducted will not exceed eight drills.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.081. School District Peace Officers, School Resource Officers, and Security Personnel.
The board of trustees of any school district may employ security personnel, enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency for the provision of school resource officers, and commission peace officers. Only peace officers are allowed to carry weapons on school property, not school resource officers.
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Teaching/Learning
Texas provides students with disabilities the accommodations and resources they need to have an appropriate education.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.004. Placement of Students With Disabilities.
https://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2021/education-code/title-2/subtitle-g/chapter-37/subchapter-a/section-37-004/
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.001. Statewide Plan.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.005. Individualized Education Program.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.003. Eligibility Criteria.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.004. Full Individual and Initial Evaluation.
Texas provides students with limited-English proficiency with a bilingual and special education program.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.053. Establishment of Bilingual Education and Special Language Programs.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.051. State Policy.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.055. Program Content; Method of Instruction.
Who does this protect? Students, Students with disabilities
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Interpersonal Relationships
There is currently no policy surrounding Respect and Diversity in Texas. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School Climate Center
Institutional Environments
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.055. Parental Involvement.
On admitting a student to a school-community guidance center, a representative of the school district, the student, and the student’s parent shall develop an agreement that specifies the responsibilities of the parent and the student. For example, a parent will agree to attend specific conferences and meetings to know about their child’s progress.
Community education may include educational programs, including programs relating to cultural awareness, parenting skills education and parental involvement in school programs, and multilevel adult education and personal growth. The agency’s responsibility is to develop, implement, and regulate a comprehensive statewide program for community education services.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.251 Definitions.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 29.252 Agency Role in Community Education.
Who does this protect? Students, Parents
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Texas schools need to develop plans for dealing with emergencies.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.108 Multihazard Emergency Operations Plan; Safety and Security and Security Audit.
- Texas Statutes Education Code 37.207. Model Safety and Security Audit Procedure.
- Texas Administrative Code 25 297.5 Building Operation and Maintenance Guidelines.
https://regulations.justia.com/states/texas/title-25/part-1/chapter-297/subchapter-a/section-297-5/
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.109 School Safety and Security Committee.
Each school district will have a school safety and security committee that will participate on behalf of the district in developing and implementing emergency plans consistent with the district’s multi-hazard emergency operations plan and supporting the district in any way they can by making recommendations.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.205 Safety Training Programs.
The Texas School Safety Center will conduct a school safety training program for each district. The program will include discussion of school safety issues with parents and community members, the development of a positive school environment, proactive safety measures designed to address local concerns, etc.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.114. Emergency Evacuations; Mandatory School Drills.
The commissioner, in consultation with the Texas School Safety Center and the state fire marshal, will provide procedures for evacuating and securing school property during an emergency and the number of mandatory school drills conducted will not exceed eight drills.
Texas Statutes Education Code 37.081. School District Peace Officers, School Resource Officers, and Security Personnel.
The board of trustees of any school district may employ security personnel, enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency for the provision of school resource officers, and commission peace officers. Only peace officers are allowed to carry weapons on school property, not school resource officers.
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? No
Social Media
There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Texas. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School
There is currently no policy surrounding Professional Relationships in Texas. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School