Key Provisions of House Bill 6

House Bill 6 allows for out-of-school suspensions for students categorized as “repeated and significant” disruptors or those posing threats to others’ health and safety. This bill effectively reverses prior state laws from 2017 and 2019, which limited when younger and homeless students could be suspended.

Significant support for the bill came from most House Republicans, who co-authored it early in the legislative session.

Amendments and Enhancements

During a recent House session, amendments were introduced concerning how disciplinary alternative education settings can be utilized. Notably, students involved in assaults against teachers or making threats must undergo a minimum of 30 days in these educational programs.

Moreover, the bill proposes to repeal an existing law that mandates sending students caught vaping to alternative education settings. Schools would also be allowed to conduct remote instruction for students in these programs—a method previously linked to learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incorporating Feedback from Testimony

The version of the bill voted on introduces changes shaped by testimonies presented during a public education committee hearing. Notably, for instances involving students with disabilities, the bill now requires the involvement of “knowledgeable professionals” when determining intervention strategies. Furthermore, Rep. Jeff Leach, the bill’s author, included stipulations that necessitate teachers to implement classroom management techniques and to demonstrate that a student is a genuine risk before removing them from class.

Addressing Rising Classroom Violence

This legislative effort responds to escalating incidents of student violence in Texas classrooms, a trend exacerbated after the pandemic. School administrators have described these developments as detrimental to teachers’ working conditions, contributing to high turnover rates within the profession.

During discussions on the House floor, some Democrats attempted to introduce amendments advocating for increased psychological resources for students, but these were met with opposition from Leach.

Final Thoughts on Discipline and Consequences

Leach articulated his stance during the debates, stating, “Kids are going to be kids, but I will tell you that it is not compassionate for kids not to have consequences,” emphasizing the necessity of accountability in the educational environment. Some bipartisan support for his views emerged, notably from Dallas Rep. John Bryant, who expressed the importance of addressing resource inadequacies when discussing school finance reforms set for further review.