A Severe Warning for Texas Teachers Facilitating Student Walkouts

Texas students who feel the need to protest will have to do it outside of school hours.

The Texas Education Agency Rules Re: Student Protests During School Hours

Turn on the news on any given day and you find someone protesting something. Last week, students at various Texas schools walked out of class to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts to capture criminals in the United States illegally. The TEA is having none of it. The agency has released its rules regarding protests during school hours and the consequences for breaking those rules.

Consequences for Students, Teachers and School Districts Involved with Political Protests

The TEA ‘s actions following last week’s student protests during school hours are as follows:

Students must be marked as absent, and schools risk losing daily attendance funding if they allow or encourage students to walk out of class.

Teachers that facilitate walk outs will be subject to investigation and sanctions including licensure revocation.

School systems that facilitate walkouts will be subject to investigation and sanction, including either the appointment of a monitor, conservator or board of managers.

School Attendance is Crucial

The TEA said it is the obligation of Texas schools to ensure that students on campus are in class and safe. Schools facilitating unapproved events that remove students from the class that result in unexcused absences will face reprimand.

Teachers Are Not Paid to Be Activist

It is illegal in the state of Texas for certified educators to encourage or facilitate student departures from a class or school activity to take part in any form of political activism. Educators are also subject to all requirements in the Educator Code of Ethics and local employment guidelines. Teachers found to be in violation of employment guidelines will be referred to SBEC Enforcement, which will pursue enforcement actions with the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to seek sanctions as warranted. In other words, teachers can lose their certification to teach in the state of Texas.

School Systems Cannot Allow Political Activism During School Hours

According to the TEA, state law prohibits school systems from supporting or opposing any forms of political activism that disrupts learning during the school day, including facilitation of political activism via taxpayer-funded district resources. If a school system is found to be in violation of state law, the agency will investigate and take appropriate action, which can include the appointment of a monitor, conservator or board of managers.