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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to parental rights in public education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 26.001, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Parents are full partners with educators, |
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administrators, and school district boards of trustees in their |
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children's education. Parents shall be encouraged to actively |
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participate in creating and implementing educational programs for |
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their children. |
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(f) Each school district shall include in the district's |
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student handbook: |
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(1) a statement of the district's grievance procedure |
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under Section 26.011; and |
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(2) a copy or summary of the provisions of this chapter |
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relating to parental rights. |
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SECTION 2. Section 26.006, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) A parent is entitled to: |
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(1) review all teaching materials, textbooks, and |
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other teaching aids used in the classroom of the parent's child; |
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[and] |
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(2) review each test administered to the parent's |
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child after the test is administered; and |
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(3) observe any class or activity in which the parent's |
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child participates. |
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(d) A parent who wishes to observe a class or activity under |
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Subsection (a)(3) must obtain permission from the educator who is |
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responsible for the class or activity before the parent may observe |
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the class or activity. An educator may not unreasonably deny a |
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parent the opportunity to observe a class or activity. |
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SECTION 3. Section 26.009, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) An employee of a school district must obtain the written |
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consent of a child's parent before the employee may: |
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(1) conduct a psychological examination, test, or |
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treatment, unless the examination, test, or treatment is required |
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under Section 38.004 or state or federal law regarding requirements |
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for special education; [or] |
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(2) make or authorize the making of a videotape of a |
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child or record or authorize the recording of a child's voice; or |
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(3) conduct market research to gather information from |
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the student that: |
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(A) relates to the student's family or friends; |
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or |
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(B) is of a personal or sexual nature. |
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(c) When seeking parental consent, a school district's |
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letter to a parent must be clear and specific and include: |
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(1) the purpose of any test, activity, or service that |
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is the subject of the letter; and |
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(2) the scope of the consent being requested. |
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SECTION 4. Section 26.011, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.011. COMPLAINTS. The board of trustees of each |
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school district shall adopt a grievance procedure under which the |
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board shall address each complaint that the board receives |
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concerning violation of a right guaranteed by this chapter. The |
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board shall ensure that information concerning the grievance |
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procedure, including any deadlines under the procedure, is readily |
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available to parents. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |