Texas House Bill HB172

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/12/08
• Out of House Committee: 5/5/09

Caption

Relating to the right of a parent of a public school student to immediate notice of certain disciplinary action taken against the student.

Impact

The bill is set to amend Chapter 26 of the Education Code of Texas, establishing clearer communication protocols between schools and parents. By ensuring that parents are promptly informed of disciplinary decisions, the legislation seeks to enhance parental involvement in the educational process and ensure that parents are aware of their child's circumstances. This approach could help strengthen the parents' ability to support their children during potentially challenging times, such as disciplinary issues.

Summary

House Bill 172 focuses on reinforcing the rights of parents concerning disciplinary actions taken against their children in public schools. Specifically, it aims to ensure that parents receive prompt notification should their child be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program, be expelled, or put into a juvenile justice alternative education program. The bill mandates that school districts inform parents on the day the disciplinary action is taken through written notice delivered by the student, followed by a more formal notification by telephone or mail by the next business day.

Contention

There may be points of contention regarding the bill's implementation, particularly related to the school's capacity to comply with the 24-hour notification requirement. Critics may argue about the administrative burden placed on school districts to issue timely notifications, potentially leading to concerns over resource allocation. Additionally, the effectiveness of such measures in actually improving student behavior and parental engagement might be debated among stakeholders in the education system.