In this edition:
- Summary of This Week’s Action Items
- Stop Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Ban in K-12!
- Good Bill Alert: Protect Students from Bullying Bill is On the Move!
- Bad School Discipline Bill – House Bill 6!
- Other Bill Updates
- Committee Hearings This Week
- Highlights from Last Week
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Summary: This Week’s Action Items
If you have 5 minutes…
Call House Public Education Committee members and tell them to vote no on SB 12, the ban on diversity, equity and inclusion in K-12 schools.
Call the House Calendars Committee and tell them to vote yes to HB 1405 for more student protections against school bullying.
Call the Senate Education K-16 Committee members and tell them to vote no on HB 6, the harmful school discipline bill.
If you have time to make calls, thank you so much for your continued support of Texas students. We know things are busy in the legislature, but we have a few more weeks to ensure all students can attend well-funded, safe welcoming schools.
Stop the Ban on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in K-12 Schools!
Senate Bill 12 by Sen. Brandon Creighton is a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion in K-12 schools. This hurts educators’ ability to support student learning and success.
This bill also bans school clubs and conversations related to gender, which would target LGBTQ+ students. It puts a huge burden on school districts to annually certify that they are in compliance with confusing classroom censorship laws and the diversity, equity and inclusion ban.
No matter our color, background, or zip code, we want our children to have an education that imparts honesty about who we are, integrity in how we treat others, and courage to do what’s right. All students deserve an education where they can thrive and feel safe and included.
Bill is Moving to Protect Students from Bullying!
Late last week, House Bill 1405, an IDRA priority bill was voted out of the House Public Education Committee. HB 1405 would strengthen Texas laws relating to prevention and responses to bullying and harassment in schools. The bill is now in the Calendars Committee which is the last step before it goes to the Texas House floor for a vote. Since there isn’t much time left, it is important to amplify your voice and help get this bill to the next stage in the process.
Action: We encourage you to call the House Calendars Committee and tell them to send this bill to the House floor for a vote! See our toolkit for more information.
Continue to Voice Your Concerns About the Harmful School Discipline Bill
Last week, the Senate Education K-16 Committee heard House Bill 6, a harmful school discipline bill that would give harsh punishments for minor offenses young Texas students make.
House Bill 6’s language makes it easier to suspend or remove students, especially younger children, for vague or minor disruptions. This risks pushing the most vulnerable students, such as those with disabilities or behavioral challenges, out of the classroom instead of supporting them.
Action: We encourage you to call members of the Senate Education K-16 Committee and tell them your concerns with the bill. We’ve included a call script below!
Call Script
“Hello, my name is [say your name] and I live in (name the town and/or school district you live in). I am calling to urge [Legislator’s Name] to vote no on House Bill 6. This bill harms students through the use of punitive zero tolerance practices.
This bill would allow our youngest students in pre-kindergarten through third grade to be suspended for a one-time disruption, allow for unlimited in school suspension placements, and allow the courts to be involved in disciplinary actions. [If you have an example, please share it!]
The bill will disproportionately impact vulnerable students, especially those with disabilities, and risks placing more kids in the school-to-prison pipeline. HB 6 would be a step backwards for our students. We need to prioritize providing support to our schools, teachers and students.
Please vote no to HB 6 when it comes up for a vote. Thank you very much for your time and attention.”
Other Bill Updates
House Bill 2, School Funding Bill Stalled – House Bill 2, the House’s priority school funding bill has not been set for a committee hearing yet in Senate Education. This comes after promises made by state leaders to pass school funding for public schools along with the multi-billion voucher scam.
The bill includes increases to per-pupil funding, targeted student programs, early education, teacher pay, and special education funding but has yet to move as the legislative weeks wind down. New versions of the bill may not include all school funding increases in the original bill.
State-Sanctioned Censorship in Higher Ed – The House Higher Education Committee heard Senate Bill 37, a bill that would shift power over what is taught in college classrooms away from professors and academic leaders and gives it to university boards of regents.
This would mean less input from experts and essentially censoring certain topics students can learn about. The Texas Legislative Education Equity Coalition testified against this bill along with students, professors and advocates trying to protect curricula in Texas universities.
Coming Up: Week of May 12, 2025
Texas House: Tuesday
- House Public Education Committee
- 8:00 a.m. (See notice)
- House Higher Education Committee
- Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. (See notice)
- House State Affairs Committee
- 8:00 a.m. (See notice)
- Watch hearings live
- Watch past hearings
Texas Senate: Tuesday
- No relevant hearings scheduled yet.
- Watch hearings live
- Watch past hearings
Highlights from Last Week
Testimony Presented Last Week
Teachers in High-Need Fields Need Supports – IDRA Testimony on SB 27, Submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, May 6, 2025
Library Councils Could Lead to One-Sided Censorship of Student Learning – IDRA Testimony against SB 13, submitted by Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., to the Texas House Committee on Public Education, May 6, 2025
SB 37 Lowers Quality of Texas Higher Education – TLEEC Testimony Against SB 37, submitted by Vivek Datla to the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, May 6, 2025 (See video)
Zero Tolerance Discipline Has Not and Will Not Help Texas Students, Families or Teachers – IDRA Written Testimony Against HB 6 Submitted by Kaci Wright, to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, May 8, 2025
Policymakers Must Strengthen Student and Parent Due Process Rights, Not Make it Easier to Push Out Students – IDRA Written Testimony Against CSHB 6 Submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Committee on Education K-16, May 8, 2025
Tools & Resources
Learn more about IDRA’s policy recommendations for Texas
See our Infographic: 5 Data Snacks on IDRA’s Policy Priorities
The Big Cost of Proposed Voucher Legislation, Data Map
How to Testify before the Texas Legislature, Infographic
Get more advocacy tips and videos on IDRA’s SEEN website.
Welcoming Immigrant Students, Infographic
