Following up on the passage of the “Texas Teacher Bill of Rights” — which garnered unanimous approval in the Texas Senate this week — Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Creighton) has filed Senate Bill (SB) 27, a bill focusing on classroom discipline and procedural protections.
The proposal provides a comprehensive package of reforms aimed at improving the working conditions for public school educators while also refining administrative processes within Texas school districts.
Under the bill, school districts, before the start of each school year, would be required to issue a “duty calendar” which would serve as the basis for calculating the daily rate of pay. The daily rate would be determined by dividing the annual salary by the number of days the employee is expected to work, as set by the calendar.
The bill amends existing Education Code sections that govern disciplinary actions against teachers, including clarifying the conditions under which sanctions may be imposed if a teacher resigns or fails to meet contractual obligations.
The additions include protections for teachers who resign after the 45th day before the first day of instruction, provided their noncompliance was due to serious illness or “a close family member of the teacher” issue, relocation prompted by a change in the employer of a spouse or partner, or “signifi cant” family needs.
Notably, the bill amends the timeline and process for teacher hearings concerning disciplinary actions by allowing a “hearing examiner” to “dismiss a hearing” before completion if the teacher requests it, if the school district withdraws its proposed decision, or if both parties settle the dispute.
Also included in the bill is an “employed retiree teacher reimbursement grant program,” where financial grants to reimburse school districts will be appropriated for increased contributions to the Teacher Retirement System when hiring teachers who had retired.
The bill would also task the Texas Education Agency (TEA) with the development and training of teachers. An aspect of the program will include establishing “clear and attainable behavior expectations while proactively supporting students.” The TEA will also be responsible for developing a “technical assistance program” and beginning to collect data on teacher vacancies, including subject areas, grade levels, and other relevant information.
Furthermore, SB 27 modifies the conditions under which teachers can remove students from the classroom by specifying and expanding acceptable reasons for doing so. Under the bill, a teacher may remove from class a student who “interferes” with the teacher’s ability to communicate or with other students’ ability to learn, or who “demonstrates behavior” that is “unruly, disruptive, or abusive.” This includes if the student is engaged in “conduct that constitutes bullying.”
It also requires that a parent or guardian and teacher provide “written consent” whenever a student is returned to a classroom under these circumstances. “The teacher may not be coerced to consent,” the bill states. It also includes provisions where a “student may appeal” the removal.
Creighton spoke about classroom behavior reform during a press conference Wednesday, where he previewed the upcoming education legislation.
“Keeping order in the classroom and discipline, and returning to how we had a zero-tolerance effect on constant disruptors and this learning environment,” Creighton stated. “All of this plays together in this series of bills that we will be presenting on these subjects.”
“The Texas Senate is standing as strong as ever before for our Texas teachers.”
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