Education - CHAPTER 37

Education-CHAPTER37SUBTITLEG.SAFESCHOOLSCHAPTER37.DISCIPLINE;LAWANDORDERSUBCHAPTERA.ALTERNATIVESETTINGSFORBEHAVIORMANAGEMENT§37.001.StudentCodeofConduct(a)Theboardoftrusteesofanindependentschooldistrictshall,withtheadviceofitsdistrict-levelcommitteeestablishedunderSection11.251,adoptastudentcodeofconductforthedistrict.Thestudentcodeofconductmustbepostedandprominentlydisplayedateachschoolcampus.Inadditiontoestablishingstandardsforstudentconduct,thestudentcodeofconductmust:(1)specifythecircumstances,inaccordancewiththissubchapter,underwhichastudentmayberemovedfromaclassroom,campus,oralternativeeducationprogram;(2)specifyconditionsthatauthorizeorrequireaprincipalorotherappropriateadministratortotransferastudenttoanalternativeeducationprogram;and(3)outlineconditionsunderwhichastudentmaybesuspendedasprovidedbySection37.005orexpelledasprovidedbySection37.007.(b)Ateacherwithknowledgethatastudenthasviolatedthestudentcodeofconductshallfilewiththeschoolprincipalortheotherappropriateadministratorawrittenreport,nottoexceedonepage,documentingtheviolation.Theprincipalortheotherappropriateadministratorshall,notlaterthan24hoursafterreceiptofareportfromateacher,sendacopyofthereporttothestudent'sparentsorguardians.(c)Oncethestudentcodeofconductispromulgated,anychangeoramendmentmustbeapprovedbytheboardoftrustees.AddedbyActs1995,74thLeg.,ch.260,§1,eff.May30,1995.AmendedbyActs1997,75thLeg.,ch.1015,§2,eff.June19,1997.§37.002.RemovalbyTeacher(a)Ateachermaysendastudenttotheprincipal'sofficetomaintaineffectivedisciplineintheclassroom.TheprincipalshallrespondbyemployingappropriatedisciplinemanagementtechniquesconsistentwiththestudentcodeofconductadoptedunderSection37.001.(1of44)3/4/20041:45:56AMEducation-CHAPTER37(b)Ateachermayremovefromclassastudent:(1)whohasbeendocumentedbytheteachertorepeatedlyinterferewiththeteacher'sabilitytocommunicateeffectivelywiththestudentsintheclassorwiththeabilityofthestudent'sclassmatestolearn;or(2)whosebehaviortheteacherdeterminesissounruly,disruptive,orabusivethatitseriouslyinterfereswiththeteacher'sabilitytocommunicateeffectivelywiththestudentsintheclassorwiththeabilityofthestudent'sclassmatestolearn.(c)IfateacherremovesastudentfromclassunderSubsection(b),theprincipalmayplacethestudentintoanotherappropriateclassroom,intoin-schoolsuspension,orintoanalternativeeducationprogramasprovidedbySection37.008.Theprincipalmaynotreturnthestudenttothatteacher'sclasswithouttheteacher'sconsentunlessthecommitteeestablishedunderSection37.003determinesthatsuchplacementisthebestoronlyalternativeavailable.Thetermsoftheremovalmayprohibitthestudentfromattendingorparticipatinginschool-sponsoredorschool-relatedactivity.(d)Ateachershallremovefromclassandsendtotheprincipalforplacementinanalternativeeducationprogramorforexpulsion,asappropriate,astudentwhoengagesinconductdescribedunderSection37.006or37.007.Thestudentmaynotbereturnedtothatteacher'sclasswithouttheteacher'sconsentunlessthecommitteeestablishedunderSection37.003determinesthatsuchplacementisthebestoronlyalternativeavailable.AddedbyActs1995,74thLeg.,ch.260,§1,eff.May30,1995.§37.0021.UseofConfinement,Restraint,Seclusion,andTime-Out(a)Itisthepolicyofthisstatetotreatallstudentswithdignityandrespect.Astudentwithadisabilitymaynotbeconfinedinalockedbox,lockedcloset,orotherspeciallydesignedlockedspaceaseitheradisciplinemanagementpracticeorabehaviormanagementtechnique.(b)Inthissection:(1)Restraintmeanstheuseofphysicalforceoramechanicaldevicetorestrictthefreemovementofalloraportionofastudent'sbody.(2)Seclusionmeansabehaviormanagementtechniqueinwhichastudentisconfinedinalockedbox,lockedcloset,orlockedroomthat:(A)isdesignedsolelytosecludeaperson;and(2of44)3/4/20041:45:56AMEducation-CHAPTER37(B)containslessthan50squarefeetofspace.(3)Time-outmeansabehaviormanagementtechniqueinwhich,toprovideastudentwithanopportunitytoregainself-control,thestudentisseparatedfromotherstudentsforalimitedperiodinasetting:(A)thatisnotlocked;and(B)fromwhichthestudentisnotphysicallypreventedfromleaving.(c)Aschooldistrictemployeeorvolunteeroranindependentcontractorofadistrictmaynotplaceastudentinseclusion.Thissubsectiondoesnotapplytotheuseofseclusioninafacilitytowhichthefollowinglaw,rules,orregulationsapply:(1)theChildren'sHealthActof2000,Pub.L.No.106-310,anysubsequentamendmentstothatAct,anyregulationsadoptedunderthatAct,oranysubsequentamendmentstothoseregulations;(2)40T.A.C.Sections720.1001-720.1013;or(3)25T.A.C.Section412.308(e).(d)Thecommissionerbyruleshalladoptproceduresfortheuseofrestraintandtime-outbyaschooldistrictemployeeorvolunteeroranindependentcontractorofadistrictinthecaseofastudentreceivingspecialeducationservicesunderSubchapterA,Chapter29.Aprocedureadoptedunderthissubsectionmust:(1)beconsistentwith:(A)professionallyacceptedpracticesandstandardsofstudentdisciplineandtechniquesforbehaviormanagement;and(B)relevanthealthandsafetystandards;and(2)identifyanydisciplinemanagementpractice