Texas House Bill HB516

Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

• Filed: 11/14/22
• Out of House Committee: 3/29/23

Caption

Relating to requiring a school district or open-enrollment charter school to report data regarding certain disciplinary or law enforcement actions taken against students.

Impact

If enacted, HB 516 would significantly impact existing school policies by imposing requirements that were previously nonexistent. The bill is poised to encourage schools to maintain accurate and detailed records of incidents that result in disciplinary actions, including restraints and interactions with law enforcement. It would require reporting such data annually to the Texas Education Agency, which would further analyze and publicly share this information. This shift could lead to improved accountability for how schools handle discipline while potentially guiding policy changes aimed at addressing issues of equity and fairness in student treatment. Moreover, the collected data would enable better monitoring of trends relating to disciplinary actions taken against students, particularly those who belong to marginalized groups.

Summary

House Bill 516 aims to require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas to report specific data related to disciplinary and law enforcement actions taken against students. This legislation was proposed in response to rising concerns about how students are treated in school environments, especially regarding the use of force and interventions by law enforcement. By mandating the collection and submission of various forms of incident-based data, such as the number of students restrained or cited, the bill intends to foster greater transparency in school disciplinary practices. The legislation stipulates that certain demographic information about students involved in disciplinary incidents must be collected and reported, thereby aiming to shed light on potential disparities in treatment among different student demographics.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 516 appears to be mixed, with some stakeholders expressing enthusiastic support while others raise significant concerns. Proponents, including advocacy groups such as Disability Rights Texas, see the bill as a positive step toward increasing transparency and protecting students' rights by ensuring schools are more accountable for their disciplinary practices. They argue that reporting such data will provide valuable insights into the treatment of students, especially those with disabilities who may be disproportionately affected. Conversely, opponents, including representatives from the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, worry that the bill may create a chilling effect on teachers' ability to maintain discipline in classrooms. They fear that overly scrutinizing disciplinary procedures could discourage necessary actions and support for managing disruptive behaviors among students.

Contention

Despite its supportive intentions, HB 516 has faced contention over concerns related to the balance between accountability and the practical implications for educators and administrators. Critics argue that the extensive reporting requirements may overburden schools and detract from the focus on education itself. Additionally, there are apprehensions about how the collected data will be used and whether it may inadvertently lead to punitive measures against educators for managing classroom behavior. The ongoing debate reflects larger themes of accountability within education systems and the extent to which legislative measures can or should dictate the management of student discipline in schools.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

• Chapter 37. Discipline; Law And Order
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: New Section

• Chapter 12. Charters
  • Section: New Section
  • Section: New Section