A new law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2023 permits public school boards to decide whether the district can employ or accept chaplains as volunteers to provide student support on campuses. Chaplains are religious representatives in nonreligious environments, such as hospitals, prisons and schools.

Senate Bill 763 went into effect Sept. 1, and school boards across the state are required to vote on their district’s chaplain policies by March 1.

The backstory

Authored by state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, and co-authored by one of Cy-Fair’s state senators, Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, SB 763 states if a school board approves a policy allowing chaplains to volunteer in or work for public schools:
  • Chaplains can provide mental health support; behavioral health services; and suicide prevention, intervention and postvention.
  • Chaplains would not be subject to the State Board for Educator Certification as traditional school counselors are.
  • Chaplains who have been registered as sex offenders would not be eligible for employment or to volunteer.
Current situation

School safety has been a top priority for CFISD in bond programs over the past decade, and district leadership has also highlighted the importance of mental health resources in schools, according to previous Community Impact reporting.


However, as of press time Feb. 7, the district’s website lists only four school counselor vacancies. According to a CFISD school counselor job posting, applicants must meet the following qualifications:
  • Master’s degree and a valid Texas Certificate as a Professional School Counselor
  • At least two years of successful experience as a classroom teacher
  • A valid Texas school counselor certificate
  • Knowledge of counseling procedures, student appraisal and career development
  • Organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
  • Visionary leadership in public schools to work with faculties, families and communities
CFISD has several existing partnerships with local churches and does not discriminate based on religion in the volunteer application process. All volunteers are subject to a criminal history record check on all adults who work with students as mentors or volunteers, according to district policy.

The district’s personnel positions and school volunteer program policies are available online.

Those opposed

Cypress Families for Pubilc Schools, a nonpartisan group of parents seeking to inform the public about CFISD issues, posted a flyer on social media Feb. 5 urging the board to vote against allowing chaplains to provide services to students, “which would violate the separation of church and state,” the flyer states.


The group argued chaplains are held to a lower qualification standard than school counselors.

What’s next?

CFISD’s board is expected to vote on the district’s chaplain policy at the Feb. 12 meeting. The board meets at 6 p.m. at the Mark Henry Administration Building, 11440 Matzke Road, Cypress.