Effective last school year, Texas House Bill 6 gave teachers broader authority to remove students who disrupt classroom instruction. Under the law, a single act of misbehavior can lead to immediate removal, and the previous cap on in‑school suspension days has been eliminated, though each placement must be reviewed at least every ten school days.
Local reaction in Tarrant County
At a panel hosted by Texas A&M University School of Law on Oct. 28, education attorney Elvin Houston, criminology professor Johnny Nhan of Texas Christian University, and Texas A&M law professor Jenny Carroll discussed how the law is playing out for students and teachers in Tarrant County.
Houston, who represents school districts, said the statute expands the circumstances in which students can be disciplined but does not add new disciplinary tools. “The consequences typically involve removing students from their regular classrooms, and research has long questioned how effective that approach is,” he noted.
Nh an expressed concern that schools are “starting to skip the helping the kids part” and moving straight to punishment. He cited his wife, a Fort Worth ISD school psychologist, and her colleagues’ observations of staffing shortages that limit counseling and intervention options.
Potential impact on students and law‑enforcement contact
The panel highlighted a rise in formal juvenile referrals in Tarrant County: 3,433 in 2024, up from 2,377 in 2020, according to county data. While those numbers include referrals unrelated to schools, the new law could increase student interactions with law‑enforcement, as certain expulsions must be reported to police.
Carroll urged lawmakers to consider children’s developmental needs when crafting discipline policies, rather than focusing solely on the most extreme incidents. She emphasized that federal special‑education protections remain intact, ensuring students with disabilities retain their rights under existing statutes.
Calls for additional resources
Former Plano ISD assistant principal Michelle Tatro recounted personal experiences of violence in schools, describing being hit, kicked, punched, and bitten. When asked how educators could feel safer, Houston answered simply, “Money.” He argued that increased funding could improve teacher recruitment, professional development, and mental‑health services.
Houston concluded, “Until there is some emphasis at the legislative level to fund those priorities, we’ll continue to have these issues, I fear.” The panelists agreed that without adequate resources, the expanded removal authority may not achieve its intended goal of safer, more orderly classrooms.
What parents and communities should watch
Parents in Tarrant County should stay informed about how their schools are applying HB 6 and what support services are available for their children. Community members can advocate for increased funding and for policies that balance disciplinary authority with effective intervention strategies.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
