Educators' Duty to Protect Students

Educators have a professional and ethical obligation to protect students from harmful or inappropriate behavior, whether it comes from colleagues or others within the school environment. This responsibility is more important than any personal doubts or discomfort about reporting a colleague’s misconduct or taking part in an investigation. The safety and well-being of students must always come first. Reporting suspected abuse is not only a moral duty—it is also required by law.

Understanding Your Role as a Mandatory Reporter

Educators and other professionals who are required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect are protected when they make a report in good faith. This means that if you honestly believe a child may be in danger and you report it, you cannot be sued or charged with a crime for making that report. This protection comes from Texas Family Code Section 261.106, which says: 

"A person acting in good faith who reports or assists in the investigation of a report of alleged child abuse or neglect is immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed."

Texas law also assumes that all reports are made in good faith, unless there is clear evidence that the report was false or made to cause harm. This rule helps protect people—especially educators—from being afraid to report something suspicious.

However, not reporting suspected abuse is a serious matter. If a professional fails to report, they can face criminal charges, lose their license, or even be sued. You can find more details in the Failure to Uphold Professional Responsibility Section below. 

A new law, Senate Bill (SB) 571, was passed in 2025 during the 89th Legislative Session. Starting September 1, 2025, professionals must report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) or the police within 24 hours. 

How to Report Child Abuse

If you believe a child is being abused, is a victim of sexual misconduct, or any other crime, contact law enforcement immediately. 

In an Emergency

If the situation is life-threatening or requires immediate help:

• Call 911 or your local law enforcement agency right away.
• Please note: School district or local education agency (LEA) police departments are not considered local law enforcement for emergency reporting.

If There Is No Immediate Danger

If you suspect child abuse or neglect but the child is not in immediate danger:

• Report it to DFPS.

         o    Online: Texas Abuse Hotline
         o    By phone: 1-800-252-5400 (recommended for urgent situations)

If You Suspect Human Trafficking

If the suspected abuse involves human trafficking, you must report it to both:

• DFPS online or at 1-800-252-5400, and
• Local law enforcement, the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Important Reminders for School Employees

• Do not investigate the situation yourself: School staff must not try to confirm or rule out abuse before reporting. Even well-meaning actions can interfere with official investigations and may unintentionally harm the child.
• Leave investigations to trained professionals. Only law enforcement and child protection experts have the authority and training to determine what happened.
• When in doubt, report. If you have reasonable cause to believe abuse may have occurred—even if you’re unsure—you are still required to report it. The DFPS Texas Abuse Hotline can help if you’re uncertain.
• You must report it yourself. The legal duty to report suspected abuse cannot be passed on to someone else. Each individual is responsible for making their own report.

Warning Signs of Reportable Misconduct

Everyone in the school community—staff, students, parents, and administrators—should be aware of behaviors that may indicate inappropriate or reportable conduct by school employees. Recognizing the warning signs, outlined in Texas Educators’ Code of Ethics, helps protect students and ensure a safe learning environment.

Physical Contact

• Unnecessary or inappropriate touching, hugging, or being physical close to a student

Manipulation or Grooming

• Gradually building a relationship that blurs professional boundaries

Boundary Violations

• Showing favoritism, such as giving gifts, special privileges, or excessive praise to one student.

Inappropriate Communication

• Having overly personal conversations, especially about romantic, affectionate, or sexual topics
• Using private messaging apps or social media to communicate with students outside of school hours or about non-school topics
• Counseling students when it’s not part of the educator’s job
• Ignoring school rules that limit contact with students

Unexplained Gifts or Money

• Receiving unexplained gifts or money from a teacher

Secretive Behavior

• Asking students to keep secrets or not tell others about certain conversations or interactions
• Trying to hide communication with students

Isolation

• Discouraging a student from spending time with peers or trusted adults 

Emotional Dependency

• Making a student feel emotionally dependent on the educator

Changes in Student Behavior

• Sudden anxiety, fear, or reluctance to attend school or be around a specific teacher

Drop in Academic Performance

• Drop in grades or participation, especially if linked to increased time with one educator

Institutional Red Flags

• School leadership not promptly responding to concerns or complaints
• Multiple reports or rumors about the same educator, even if not officially confirmed 
• Ignoring school policies on student-teacher interactions, or failing to enforce boundaries

Child Abuse Prevention Requirements in Texas Schools

Texas law requires all public-school systems to adopt policies and procedures for reporting and preventing child abuse, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other forms of maltreatment. These policies help ensure that students are protected, and that school staff are trained to recognize and respond to signs of abuse. 

Training Requirements

School Staff

All new school employees—and any staff who haven’t yet received training—must complete instruction on:

• How to recognize and prevent sexual abuse, trafficking, and other forms of maltreatment
• Special considerations for children with significant cognitive disabilities 

School Board Members

Board members must complete one hour of training every two years covering:

• Legal responsibilities
• Best practices
• District policies related to child abuse, sexual abuse, and human trafficking

  
Training must be provided by a registered provider, authorized provider, or Lone Star Governance (LSG) coach. For more information, visit the TEA School Board Trustee Training webpage.  

Superintendents

Effective September 1, 2019, an individual who holds a superintendent certificate that is renewed on or after January 1, 2021, must complete at least two and a half hours of training every five years on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, in accordance with TEC § 21.054(h).  

For information on approved training providers, visit Continuing Professional Education.  

Required Campus Signage

Under TEC §38.0042, every school campus must post a sign in at least one high-traffic area (e.g., hallways, near water fountains, cafeterias, gyms, or counselor offices) that includes:

• The Texas Abuse Hotline Number: 1-800-252-5400
• Instructions to call 911 in an emergency
• The website: www.txabusehotline.org
• The poster must be displayed at student eye level in both English and Spanish

Download the official posters:

• TEA No Go Tell Poster- English
• TEA No Go Tell Poster- Spanish

Required Reporting of Educator Misconduct

In addition to reporting suspected child abuse, superintendents and chief administrators of school districts and charter schools are legally required to report certain types of educator misconduct to TEA or the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC). 

What Must Be Reported

According to Texas Education Code (TEC) Section 21.006(b), within seven days of an employee’s resignation or termination, superintendents must report to TEA/SBEC if there is evidence that a certified educator:

• Abused or committed an unlawful act with a student or minor
•  Was involved in a romantic relationship, or solicited sexual contact, with a student or minor
• Possessed, sold, or distributed illegal drugs
• Misused school funds or property
• Tried to fraudulently obtain or alter a teaching certificate
• Committed a crime on school property or at a school event;
• Violated state testing security procedures established under TEC Section 39.0301.

For more information, visit The TEA Investigations of Misconduct webpage.

Reporting Requirements

Effective September 1, 2025, SB 571 expands reporting rules to include school employees, contractors, service providers, and others working with students. It also strengthens the timeline and scope of reporting:

Principals Must Report to Superintendents Within 48 Hours

If a principal becomes aware of any of the following involving a student or minor, they must notify their superintendent within 48 hours:

• Physical abuse
• Threats of violence
• Romantic or sexual relationships
• Inappropriate communication or boundary violations

Superintendents Must Report to TEA/SBEC Within 48 Hours

Once a superintendent receives this information, they must report it to TEA/SBEC within 48 hours.

These new rules are in addition to the existing legal requirement for all adults in Texas to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

How to Report Misconduct to TEA/SBEC

All reports must be submitted through the TEA Misconduct Reporting Portal. To request access, contact the TEA Help Desk for:

• The Misconduct Reporting Portal
• The Do Not Hire Registry
• TEA Fingerprinting Services   

Failure to Uphold Expanded Misconduct and Reporting Laws to Protect Students

TEA is committed to protecting students by investigating both individual misconduct and broader failures within school systems. This includes cases where educators harm students directly or fail to report abuse or other misconduct as required, as well as when schools do not follow proper procedures to prevent or respond to abuse.

Strengthened Protections Under SB 571

SB 571 (2025) expands mandatory reporting laws and strengthens the Do Not Hire (DNH) Registry to include a wider range of misconduct, such as:

• Inappropriate communications with students
• Violations of professional boundaries

The bill also makes it a criminal offense to intentionally fail to report abuse in order to cover it up. 

Civil Liability Under SB 4639

SB 4639, also passed in 2025, removes governmental immunity for school districts and professional employees in cases involving sexual misconduct. This means:

• Schools and individuals can now be held civilly liable for failing to prevent or respond to abuse
• Victims and families may pursue legal action when misconduct occurs and is not properly addressed

These laws reinforce the importance of timely reporting and professional accountability in all Texas schools.