Texas House Bill HB1368

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 11/18/24

Caption

Relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school during all instructional hours.

Impact

The introduction of this bill is expected to bring significant changes to how schools manage staffing for crucial support roles. The requirement for schools to notify parents may lead to increased scrutiny and demand for accountability regarding the availability of these positions. Schools will need to make a good faith effort to provide notifications in a bilingual format to accommodate non-English speaking parents, which may result in additional administrative efforts in schools, particularly in larger districts with diverse populations.

Summary

House Bill 1368 mandates that public schools in Texas, including charter schools, notify parents if they lack a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian for more than 30 consecutive instructional days. This bill seeks to enhance communication and accountability in public education by ensuring that parents are informed about personnel shortages that could affect their children's educational and support services. The legislation aims to ensure that students have access to crucial resources that may directly impact their health, well-being, and academic performance.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HB 1368 could arise from the financial implications. Schools may face challenges in maintaining adequate staffing levels amid budget constraints; thus, the requirement to notify parents could be seen as an added burden. Critics of the bill may argue that the notification requirement does not address the underlying issue of staffing shortages and could create unnecessary alarm among parents without providing tangible solutions to the problem.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 25. Admission, Transfer, And Attendance
  • Section: New Section