The Texas Education Agency recently released guidance and consequences outlining educator and district responsibilities after students were reported walkouts to attend protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In a press release, the TEA said, “It is in this spirit that school systems have been reminded of their duty and obligation to ensure that their students are both safe and that they attend school, with consequences for students for unexcused absences.”
The TEA noted the following consequences for students, teachers and school districts related to actions associated with political activism that include: -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 sanction including licensure and 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.
According to the TEA, educators are subject to all requirements in the Educator Code of Ethics and local employment guidelines, and if state law is violated, they will be referred to the State Board of Educator Certification (SBEC) Enforcement. The agency said that state law prohibits school systems from supporting any forms of “political activism that disrupts learning during the school day,” which includes organized efforts like protests using taxpayerfunded district resources.
If a school system is found to have violated state law, TEA will investigate and take appropriate action, which can include the appointment of a monitor, conservator or board of managers.
State law grants Morath authority (Texas Commissioner of Education) to conduct special investigations into school districts as he determines necessary. Based on the results of those investigations, the commissioner could lower the district’s accreditation status or accountability rating. He could appoint an individual to monitor the district. He could also replace its elected school board. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation after students from 14 Austin ISD campuses left schools on Jan. 30 to protest against ICE actions. The AG’s office said it is looking into use of public funds and whether any laws were violated as well as demanding AISD share information on it policies relating to students being allowed to leave campus, district security protocols, excused absences and internet communications related to protests.