Investigating Systemic Violations in Texas Public Education

The Special Investigations Division (SID) investigates systemic violations of law by Texas school districts and charter schools.

How to Report Different Types of Concerns

Child Abuse or Neglect

Report immediately to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS):

Under Texas law, educators and certain professionals must report suspected abuse or neglect no later than 48 hours after first having reasonable cause to believe it occurred.

General Complaints About a School District or Charter School

Consider beginning with your school’s grievance process. Use the Parent Complaint Navigator or  visit the TEA General Complaints page.

Educator Misconduct (Including Superintendents and Administrators)

Submit concerns to TEA’s Educator Investigations Division using the online complaint form.

Criminal Activity

Concerns involving potential criminal activity should be reported to local law enforcement. When appropriate, TEA may coordinate with law enforcement agencies.

What SID Investigates

Under Texas Education Code (TEC) § 39.003, SID investigates systemic violations of law affecting students, public funds, governance, and accountability, including:

  • Governance conflicts involving trustees or district leadership
  • Failure to report child abuse
  • Violations of the Texas Education Code or related federal laws
  • Student access or equal treatment obligations under TEC or applicable federal statute
  • Cheating, test security breaches, or manipulation of student data 
  • Concerns involving the accuracy, reliability, or integrity of school and student data reporting
  • Misuse of public education funds or inaccurate financial reporting

These matters typically involve patterns of conduct rather than isolated incidents. SID does not investigate criminal matters; however, when potential criminal activity is identified, SID coordinates with appropriate law 
enforcement agencies.

Concerns based solely on disagreements with local decisions, individual circumstances, or unsupported allegations generally do not meet the threshold for an SID investigation.

What Prompts an SID Investigation

. Investigations may be authorized when there is:

  • Evidence of systemic failures, or a pattern of non-compliance, 
  • Credible documentation or data suggesting legal violations
  • A series of system issues that cannot be resolved through general complaints processes 
  • Referrals from other TEA divisions identifying potential statewide or systemic risk

Submitting a Complaint

To submit a concern, start with the Parent Complaint Navigator. It will guide you to the appropriate complaint process based on the nature of your concern. If a Special Investigations Division review may be warranted, you will be directed to the General Education Complaint Form, where you can submit supporting documentation.

Parent Complaint Navigator

The SID Team

SID is a multidisciplinary team made up of former educators, education administrators, and individuals with local, state, and federal law enforcement backgrounds. This mix of perspectives helps SID approach concerns thoughtfully, fairly, and with an understanding of how schools operate.

SID is organized into three teams, each focused on a key area:

Academic and Program Integrity Team

Investigates testing practices, student safety concerns, and discipline-related issues when they rise to a systemic level.

Fiscal Integrity Team

Reviews financial practices and programs involving potential mismanagement, public corruption, or misuse of funds.

Compliance Review Unit

Examines whether districts and charters are complying with state and federal education laws and required policies.

Special Investigation Procedures

TEA’s Special Investigation Procedures, adopted under TEC Chapter 39, outline the authority and process for conducting investigations and are required by law to ensure transparency and due process. Learn more about how special investigations are conducted, including timelines and due process, on the Special Investigation Procedures page.

What Happens After an Investigation

If an investigation confirms violations, the Commissioner of Education may take one or more actions, including:

  • Referring findings to law enforcement or other agencies, when appropriate
  • Requiring corrective actions or external audits
  • Adjusting a district's accreditation status or accountability rating
  • Appointing monitors, conservators or boards of managers 

Not every investigation results in enforcement action.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • SID investigates systemic violations under TEC Chapter 39, including testing irregularities, financial mismanagement, governance conflicts, and disparate access and unequal treatment.

  • Allegations of educator misconduct are investigated by the TEA’s Educator Investigations Division or by law enforcement. SID may become involved if there is evidence of systemic violations.

  • SID may investigate if the conduct violates roles or duties defined in TEC Chapter 11 and shows a pattern of misconduct. Complaints should include documentation.

  • SID may investigate these issues if there is evidence of district-wide or systemic practices that may violate state or federal law.

  • SID does not publicly announce pending or active investigations. However, SID will notify any school district or charter school if it opens a case to review allegations involving the school system.

  • Yes, when additional information is needed.

  • Timelines vary based on scope and complexity. Investigations may involve document reviews, data analysis, and formal reports. 

  • Most special investigation materials are confidential under Texas law. If an investigation confirms serious violations, the Commissioner may release a preliminary report to the district. After required processes are complete, final reports and other non-confidential documents may be released upon request. Supporting evidence remains confidential.

    Requests for records must be submitted through a Public Information Request (PIR) to TEA’s Public Information Office