A new bill aimed at curbing the rise in violent and disruptive incidents in Texas schools is now awaiting Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, but some parents and educators say the proposed legislation falls short of solving the deeper issues at play.
The “Teacher Bill of Rights,” recently passed by the Texas House, is designed to give educators more authority to remove students who repeatedly disrupt the classroom or display violent behavior.
Supporters argue that it’s a necessary response to a surge in school violence, but critics worry it emphasizes punishment over prevention.
A parent’s perspective: “It’s not the first time”
Vasha Gaston knows firsthand how school violence can affect a family. She pulled her daughter out of school after a violent incident involving a teacher.
“He kept putting the pen in her face,” Gaston said. “She told me she slapped it away, and then he came up behind her and slapped her in the face—really hard.”
Gaston says her daughter has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and this was not the first time she had been involved in a violent encounter at school.
According to the Texas Education Agency, incidents of school violence increased by 18% from the 2022–2023 school year to 2023–2024.
What the bill proposes
The bill introduces several new measures intended to curb classroom disruptions:
- Allows suspension for students in kindergarten through 2nd grade
- Permits indefinite in-school suspensions
- Enables virtual learning placements in alternative education programs
- Eliminates vaping-related punishments in alternative programs
- Allows suspension of homeless students for repeated disruptions or threats
While proponents argue these tools give teachers necessary leverage, critics worry they may disproportionately affect vulnerable students without offering them meaningful support.
Educators speak out
Zeph Capo, former president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, and current president of the American Federation of Teachers says the bill is full of “reactive policy” that does little to address the underlying causes of student misbehavior.
“House Bill 6 asserts the teacher’s ability to maintain control, but it does nothing to prevent behaviors or protect against violent incidents,” Capo said. “There’s no excuse to expel a six-year-old. We have a responsibility to figure out why that child is angry and get them the support they need.”
Capo and others are calling for an increase in mental health resources, including more school counselors and therapists, as well as proactive assessments to understand and address disruptive behavior before it escalates.
The mental health gap
Gaston believes a more compassionate approach might have prevented her daughter’s altercations. She says the school never asked her daughter why she was upset.
“When you don’t even sit her down to ask, like, what’s the problem? Why are you angry? They don’t do that,” Gaston said.
What’s next?
If signed into law, the new discipline measures could be implemented as early as the upcoming school year.
But with pushback from both parents and teachers, the conversation around how to best manage student behavior—and support student mental health—is far from over.
