Bill > HB1368

This bill establishes a new notification requirement for public schools in Texas regarding the absence of certain key staff members. Specifically, if a public school does not have a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian (or their equivalent) for more than 30 consecutive instructional days during a school year, the school's principal must provide written notice to parents. A "full-time equivalent" is defined as having two or more of these professionals assigned to the school, ensuring coverage during all regular student instructional hours. The notice must be provided within 30 instructional days of the staff absence and should be made in a bilingual format if the parent's primary language is not English. Schools can satisfy the notification requirement by posting the notice on their website, which must be accessible within three links from the homepage. The bill applies only to school districts or charter schools with student enrollment of 10,000 or more and will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year. The legislation aims to increase transparency about staffing gaps in schools, ensuring parents are informed about potential gaps in critical support services for students.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1368