Menéndez Bill Puts Every School Board Through Trauma Training

The text as introduced · 467 words

89R3958 JDK-D

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 197

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to training requirements for public school board of

trustees members and superintendents regarding the adoption of a

trauma-informed school standard.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 11, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 11.004 to read as follows:

Sec. 11.004. TRAINING FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND

SUPERINTENDENTS REGARDING TRAUMA-INFORMED SCHOOL STANDARD. (a)

Each member of the board of trustees and the superintendent of a

school district must complete an agency-approved course of

instruction regarding the adoption and administration of a

trauma-informed school standard. A course required under this

section must be completed:

(1) by a school board member, on election or

reelection; or

(2) by a superintendent, every four years.

(b) A course of instruction described by Subsection (a) must

provide information, relevant to and within the scope of the duties

of a school board member or superintendent, regarding:

(1) recognition of and care for trauma in students and

educators;

(2) the relationship between educator wellness and

student learning;

(3) the effect of trauma on student behavior and

learning;

(4) the prevalence of trauma among students, including

the prevalence of trauma among student populations at higher risk

of experiencing trauma;

(5) the effects of implicit or explicit bias on

recognizing trauma among various racial or ethnic groups of

students; and

(6) effective district and campus policies and

practices shown to:

(A) prevent and mitigate the negative effect of

trauma on student behavior and learning; and

(B) support the emotional wellness of educators.

(c) A school district shall submit for agency approval any

course of instruction identified by the district as satisfying the

requirements of Subsection (b).

(d) The agency may approve both in-person and online courses

of instruction to satisfy the requirements of this section,

including courses provided by community-based nonprofit

organizations with expertise concerning trauma-informed school

standards.

(e) The State Board of Education shall propose rules that

allow:

(1) a school board member to satisfy the training

requirements under Section 11.159 for completion of the training

required under this section; and

(2) a superintendent to receive credit toward the

superintendent's continuing education requirements under Section

21.054 for completion of the training required under this section.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas

Education Agency shall approve one or more courses of instruction

to satisfy the training requirements of Section 11.004, Education

Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.