The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has launched a new transparency tool that has brought to light a concerning number of criminal incidents involving educators across the state. The Educator Misconduct Reporting Dashboard, which compiles data from various sources including the Texas Department of Public Safety and the FBI, shows a significant increase in criminal history alerts and misconduct reports among Texas school employees.
Rising Numbers in Educator Misconduct
In the first eight months of fiscal year 2026, the dashboard recorded 17,060 criminal history alerts, averaging 2,133 alerts per month. This marks an increase from the previous fiscal year, which saw a monthly average of 1,938 alerts. Notably, non-certified school employees accounted for three-quarters of these alerts.
Additionally, reports of violent and sexual misconduct involving educators have surged. The TEA’s complaint reporting portal has documented 10,863 misconduct reports so far this fiscal year, with an average of 1,552 per month. This is a stark rise from the 6,456 reports filed in 2025.
Efforts to Address Misconduct
The increase in reports and investigations is partly attributed to new legislation and the establishment of an office dedicated to these cases. Senate Bill 571, introduced by State Senator Paul Bettencourt, expanded the scope of reportable misconduct and introduced stricter laws to protect students from known predators in schools.
The TEA’s Educator Investigations Division is now opening an average of 1,158 investigations per month, more than double last year’s average. Half of the current investigations involve school-related violence, while sexual misconduct accounts for 21 percent of open cases.
Legislative and Administrative Actions
The introduction of an Inspector General for Educator Misconduct, Levi Fuller, has been a key development in addressing these issues. Fuller has emphasized that while the numbers may seem alarming, they reflect progress in identifying and removing bad actors from the education system.
Senator Bettencourt and Fuller both stress the importance of continuing to refine and enforce policies that protect students. The TEA and the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) work collaboratively to oversee educator conduct, with the TEA handling investigations and the SBEC taking disciplinary actions based on findings.
As the state continues to tackle educator misconduct, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and well-being of students, reinforcing the commitment to uphold high standards within Texas schools.
Original reporting: Texas Scorecard — read the source article.
