A bill aimed at giving Texas schools more power to discipline disruptive students has passed the Texas House and is heading to the Senate for consideration. House Bill 6, dubbed the Texas Teachers’ Bill of Rights, would reverse a state law that limits out-of-school suspensions for students in pre-K through second grade. The bill, authored by Rep. Jeff Leach, is designed to protect educators’ rights to control classroom discipline.
While the bill received strong support in the House, with 121-26 votes in favor, some Democratic lawmakers expressed concerns about potential overuse of harsh penalties. Rep. Gene Wu argued that current law already allows for discipline in extreme cases involving young students, and that the proposed changes could lead to unnecessary suspensions.
Proponents of the bill, including House Speaker Dustin Burrows, emphasized the importance of giving teachers the tools they need to maintain orderly classrooms and protect themselves from violent behavior. The bill also creates a virtual disciplinary alternative school to help address disruptive behavior.
The issue of student discipline is particularly important as schools in Texas struggle to hire and retain teachers. A recent poll found that educators consider discipline and safe working conditions a top concern. The bill aims to address these issues and empower teachers to maintain control in their classrooms. The House must approve the bill once more before it can advance to the Senate for consideration.
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