Bill > SB197

This bill requires all public school board members and superintendents in Texas to complete a trauma-informed school standard training course approved by the state education agency. School board members must complete the course upon election or reelection, while superintendents must complete it every four years. The training must cover topics such as recognizing and addressing trauma in students and educators, understanding how trauma affects student behavior and learning, exploring the prevalence of trauma across different student populations, examining how bias impacts trauma recognition, and identifying effective policies to mitigate trauma's negative effects and support educator and student emotional wellness. The Texas Education Agency will approve both in-person and online courses for this training, including those provided by community-based nonprofit organizations with expertise in trauma-informed standards. Additionally, the State Board of Education will develop rules allowing board members to count this training toward their existing training requirements and superintendents to receive continuing education credit. The bill mandates that the Texas Education Agency approve appropriate training courses by December 1, 2025, and will take effect either immediately with a two-thirds legislative vote or on September 1, 2025.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB197