The backstory
Each year the board of trustees are required to adopt a student code of conduct for the district, according to Keller ISD documents. Every two years after a legislative session, various edits and updates may be made to address current trends and events regarding student behavior. According to the Texas Education Agency, Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code addresses safe schools, student discipline and behavior management. This year’s updates to Chapter 37 included amendments and expansions to the current code, according to Keller ISD documents.
The details
During his presentation during the July 24 board of trustees meeting, Assistant Superintendent Dustin Blank highlighted several components of bills that were passed during the 2023 Texas Legislative session that impact the new student code of conduct. These items include:
- House Bill 114 requires a mandatory hearing and disciplinary alternative education program placement for students who possess, use or sell an e-cigarette on school property or at a school related activity.
- House Bill 114 allows, if disciplinary alternative education program is at capacity, to place a student who commits an offense related to marijuana, THC, e-cigarettes, alcohol or abusive volatile chemicals in in-school suspension until a place in disciplinary alternative education program becomes available or the period of the student’s placement ends.
- House Bill 114 allows, if disciplinary alternative education program is at capacity, to move a student placed in disciplinary alternative education program for conduct related to marijuana, THC, e-cigarettes, alcohol, or abusive volatile chemicals to in-school suspension to make room when a student who engaged in violent conduct needs to be placed at disciplinary alternative education program.
- House Bill 114 requires a mandatory hearing for all removals for mandatory placement in a disciplinary alternative education program and mandatory expulsions.
- House Bill 3928 requires the district to provide parents whose student has been assigned to a disciplinary alternative education program information on how to request special education testing.
- Senate Bill 37 removes the requirement to report hazing or planned hazing in writing and allows for the reporting to be made to law enforcement or school officials.
- House Bill 1427 expands the offense of harassment to include making obscene, intimidating or threatening telephone calls or other electronic communications from a temporary or disposable telephone number.
