What is Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code?
An overblown bureaucratic nightmare that has made misbehaving, aggressive & violent students a bigger problem.
"Far too many students and teachers have suffered physical harm because of the shortcomings in Chapter 37. Students with extreme behavioral issues are not receiving the proper care and support they need due to bureaucratic red tape, while school districts are forced to spend millions each year addressing aggressive or violent behavior. The time for action is now.”
Roland Toscano
Superintendent, East Central ISD
Original purpose of Chapter 37.
Chapter 37 was created with the intent to protect marginalized students and give educators new tools for responding to students who were violent, abusive, or chronically disruptive.
Statewide support of districts
General guidelines for student discipline
Consistency in rules and regulations
Tracking of student discipline
Corporal punishment replaces with other options
Avenues for extreme discipline
What Chapter 37 has become.
Chapter 37 is now a 130-page behemoth of mandates and standards that adversely impact students, teachers, staff, and parents.
Local control minimized
Imbalance of responsibilities
Rights of general education students ignored
Micromanagement and loss of power
Highly prescriptive