Classroom Discipline in Texas: A Debate Over Reform

Texas lawmakers zeroed-in on classroom discipline during a Tuesday hearing, with one Republican senator saying public schools are serving a “different type of kid today than what there was 20 years ago.”

The debate is part of a broader conversation the Legislature is having about rolling back some of its own discipline reforms. Following an embrace of “zero tolerance” in the 1990s, state lawmakers later dialed back after confronting data that showed huge numbers of students – disproportionately Black children and those with disabilities – were being kicked out of school.

Background on Discipline Reforms

Thirty years ago, Texas lawmakers passed the Safe Schools Act and ushered in an era of zero-tolerance discipline. This law created disciplinary alternative schools and the Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs, called JJAEPs. The law listed offenses that triggered mandatory student removal and referral to these schools. It also gave districts wide discretion to send students there for a variety of other violations.

A major study released in 2011 analyzed nearly one million Texas public school students over more than six years. It found that nearly six in ten of them were suspended or expelled at least once between 7th grade and senior year.

Disproportionate Discipline

The Texas A&M University study also revealed that Black students and those with disabilities were disproportionately disciplined for discretionary reasons.

The Legislature spent years reforming the education code, including placing limits on suspending the state’s youngest students, tightening the ways children could be removed from campus and eliminating “ticketing” of students for school-based misdemeanors.

Current Debate

Now, Sen. Charles Perry said schools need to be given back tools to respond to unruly and violent children. He is calling for students to be kicked off campus if they assault a teacher or threaten to bring a gun to school.

Perry wants students who commit these acts expelled and sent to one of the state’s Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs, which are schools overseen by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

“When you get to a point where you can threaten or hit a teacher in a classroom, you no longer have the right to be in there,” Perry, R-Lubbock, said.

Concerns from Educators

In private conversations with educators, Perry said people would tell him “there are some kids that can’t stay in a public classroom now, period. They’re just a different type of kid today than what there was 20 years ago.”

At the same hearing, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, introduced a bill that would return the state to a pre-2013 discipline system where police could issue students Class C misdemeanors for school-related offenses, which could include violations ranging from fighting to using vulgar language.

Superintendents’ Perspectives

Some superintendents who spoke Tuesday recalled when ticketing was commonplace. Students who were ticketed had to appear before a judge and could face fines of up to $500. Some were left with criminal records.

One district leader conceded the system was sometimes used inappropriately in the past, such as when students got ticketed for chewing gum. But with guardrails, the superintendents said it could be a deterrent to disruptive behavior like fighting.

“I don’t want it to be a pipeline to the criminal system, but I do think there are instances when that’s not the worst idea in the world,” Grandview ISD Superintendent Kirby Basham said.

Civil Rights Concerns

Civil rights advocates are deeply concerned about the direction of the debate and the idea of vulnerable children being funneled into what they call the “school-to-prison pipeline.”

“This is a truly dark vision for Texas children and public schools,” said Paige Duggins-Clay, the chief legal analyst for Intercultural Development Research Association.

Impact on Students and Teachers

Last school year, there were 3,350 assaults against district employees, according to state discipline data.

District leaders on Tuesday brought lawmakers stories of teachers getting their heads slammed, dodging thrown chairs and listening to profane tirades from children.

They asked the senators for greater latitude to choose what discipline to mete out to students. They want no time limit on in-school suspensions, a virtual alternative school option and the ability to suspend children younger than third-grade – something the Legislature barred except for in the most extreme cases nearly a decade ago.

Teachers’ Perspectives

Kaylan Dixon Smith, an attorney with the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, said members overwhelmingly feel they need help with discipline.

“To be frank,” she said, “if you want to keep teachers teaching, you must make the classroom safer.”

Conclusion

The debate over classroom discipline in Texas is complex and multifaceted. While some lawmakers and educators argue that more stringent discipline measures are needed to keep teachers and students safe, others are concerned about the potential consequences of such measures, including the disproportionate impact on Black students and those with disabilities.

As the Legislature continues to discuss and debate discipline reform, it is essential to consider the perspectives of all stakeholders, including students, teachers, and civil rights advocates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the current state of discipline in Texas schools?

A: The current state of discipline in Texas schools is a topic of debate, with some arguing that more stringent measures are needed to keep teachers and students safe, while others are concerned about the potential consequences of such measures.

Q: What is the “school-to-prison pipeline”?

A: The “school-to-prison pipeline” refers to the phenomenon of students being funneled out of schools and into the criminal justice system, often as a result of disciplinary actions.

Q: What are the potential consequences of stricter discipline measures?

A: The potential consequences of stricter discipline measures include the disproportionate impact on Black students and those with disabilities, as well as the potential for students to be funneled into the criminal justice system.

Q: What do teachers and educators say about discipline in Texas schools?

A: Teachers and educators say that they need help with discipline and that the classroom needs to be made safer, but they also express concerns about the potential consequences of stricter discipline measures.