Action Alert
Defend Student Rights/Oppose Exclusionary Discipline
HB 6 doubles down on punitive discipline practices that haven’t worked in the past. Parents and K-12 students don’t need this troubling law set into place in all Texas public school districts and schools. The Texas House committee will vote this week on whether to keep this bad bill moving in the Texas Legislature. Tell them you don’t want HB 6 — we don’t need this voted out of committee!
HB 6 would expand exclusionary school discipline in the following ways:
- Allowing in-school suspensions of unlimited length;
- Allowing suspensions of young learners and homeless students for disruption by adding disruption as an exception to the preK-2nd grade and homeless student suspension ban;
- Increasing the number offenses that students are accused of committing off-campus that lead to a mandatory removal to a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP);
- Expanding mandatory expulsions to cover offenses that students are accused of committing off-campus;
- Creating virtual DAEPs; and
- Creating a civil injunction process to remove students to an alternative educational setting.
The bill also eliminates mandatory removals to DAEPs for vaping, which is the one positive aspect of the bill.
Overall Key Points
Please add any personal things that you would like to say about the bill to the House Committee before they vote, but here are some examples. Please also look under “Resources” below for more detailed points.
- HB 6 is terrible for schools and Texas kids. Children need support and school counselors, not making discipline even more extreme.
- Kids are often exhibiting age-appropriate behavior at school, and we must also keep in mind that some kids may be experiencing trauma or abuse at home. HB 6 doesn't help them — it only pushes them aside without any true help from counselors or educators.
- I want you to reject HB 6 as it is written and work towards policies that protect the rights of students. All students should be treated with fairness and respect.
- Suspension is especially harmful for such young children in preK-2nd grade at that critical time of intellectual, social, and emotional development. It labels children early on as “problem kids” and creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.
- Suspension is especially harmful for homeless students who have the highest dropout rates in the state and face dangers like human trafficking on the streets. School may be the only place they have access to basic necessities like a shower and meals.
Phone Call Wording
Hello, may I please speak with a staff member for Representative (their last name) about House Bill 6 regarding school discipline? Hi, my name is (your name). I am a (student/teacher/parent/another concerned person) from (your city), Texas. I would like to ask that you vote against House Bill 6. (explain why)
You Can Contact Any Member of the Committee
See below for Members of the House Committee on Public Education
Please click on the bill analysis here for more detailed points you can use when calling or emailing Reps.