Student Discipline

Student Discipline in Texas

Texas public schools are required to develop and enforce various student discipline policies that follow Texas Education Code and federal law, including a student code of conduct outlining disciplinary actions taken based on student behavior. The Texas Education Agency's (TEA) Student Discipline Program provides guidance to local education agencies (LEAs) and regional education service centers on these disciplinary policies and procedures as well as discipline data reporting requirements outlined in the Texas Education Data Standards.

Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures

Texas Education Code (TEC), §37.0832(c), requires school districts to adopt policies and procedures concerning bullying prevention. TEC, §12.104(b)(3)(Q), also subjects open-enrollment charter schools to this requirement. Senate Bill 2050, 87^th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, added TEC, §37.0832(c-1), which requires the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to adopt minimum standards for the bullying prevention policies and procedures adopted under TEC, §37.0832(c). TEA finalized its Minimum Standards for Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures (see link below) February 2023.

Minimum Standards for Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures

• Minimum Standards for Bullying Prevention Policies and Procedures

Texas School Safety Center Resources

• Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)
• TxSSC Bullying Checklist
• TxSSC Classroom Discussion Video on Bullying

Other Resources

• Bullying and Cyberbullying Resources
• Internet Safety:  Cyberbullying
• TSHAC Bullying Prevention Toolkit 
• TxBSPI Synergistic Mindsets
• stopbullying.gov
• PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center
• Committee for Children Bullying Prevention Resources
• NASP Bullying Prevention

Related Research

• Changing Climates of Conflict: A Social Network Experiment in 56 Schools
• Dealing with Social Difficulty During Adolescence:  The Role of Implicit Theories of Personality
• Declines in Efficacy of Anti-Bullying Programs Among Older Adolescents:  Theory and a Three-Level Meta-Analysis
• School Climate and Bullying Bystander Responses in Middle and High School

Student Discipline Program

TEA's Student Discipline Program created a sample form, the Alternative Education Program (AEP) Individualized Student Transition Plan, based on Section 37.023, Education Code, that LEAs can use to assist students transitioning from alternative education programs back to the regular classroom.