Complaints Addressed by Other Agencies

TEA only handles complaints related to violation of school law or the agency itself. The following complaint matters are typically addressed by other agencies:

Confidentiality of Student Records

The confidentiality of student education records is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Enforcement of FERPA provisions is the responsibility of the United States Department of Education's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO).

• Frequently asked questions about student privacy
• Submit questions about student privacy or FERPA online or call the Student Privacy Help Desk at 1-855-249-3072
• File a complaint with the SPPO

Health Concerns

The Department of State Health Services handles reports of hazardous conditions or health standards in school facilities.

Wage Disputes or Other Local Employment Matters

The Texas Workforce Commission handles public school employee employment claims, including wage and salary disputes involving public schools. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.

Criminal Activity

Allegations of criminal conduct do not fall within the jurisdiction of TEA and should be reported to the appropriate law enforcement entities as well as to school officials.

Ethics

Open government laws, which include the Texas Open Meetings Act and the Texas Public Information Act, are under the Texas Government Code. The Office of the Attorney General's Open Government webpage and hotline provide resources and assistance about open government ethics.

School Board Elections

The Secretary of State's Office reviews school board member elections.

Interscholastic Activities

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) governs competitive sports and programs in schools. The UIL-TEA Side-by-Side Handbook describes UIL requirements and the dispute resolution process.

Education Institutions Other Than Public K-12 Schools

• The Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) addresses matters involving post-secondary public institutions, colleges, and universities.
• Verify private school accreditation through the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) and International Association for Learner Driven Schools (IALDS).
• The Texas Home School Coalition provides home schooling information and resources.

Fraud, Waste, or Abuse in Texas

The State Auditor's Office (SAO) investigates allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to funds from the General Appropriations Act. This includes, but is not limited to, expenditures by state agencies, colleges, and universities or use of state grant money. To file a report, call the SAO Hotline at 1-800-TX-AUDIT (892-8348), file online at the State Auditor's Office website, or mail a report to:

State Auditor's Office
Attn: Investigations and Audit Support
P.O. Box 12067
Austin, TX 78711-2067