To the Administrator Addressed:
The Texas Education Agency's Parent Rights Guide, a User Guide for Parents and Educators in Texas Public Schools, has been updated to include new "parent-related" sections of the Texas Education Code (TEC). The guide is a joint project of the Parent Involvement and Community Empowerment Unit and the Division of Complaints Management. The guide is being mailed to all school districts, campuses, and education service centers. Please reproduce the document as needed for sharing with educators, parents, and other interested parties. The guide will also be posted on the Parent Involvement website at www.tea.state.tx.us/parent_inv.
The guide, published in English and in Spanish, emphasizes the importance of parents and educators working together as partners in the education of children. The text includes the specific references in the Texas Education Code that establish the rights of parents to actively participate in the education of their children. The Spanish translation was developed by the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA).
There are several sections of law that have changed or have not been included in previous versions of the guide. Legal references regarding excused absences (TEC§ 25.087); changes to the student assessment program (TEC§ 39.023); the ending of social promotion (TEC§ 28.0211); site-based decision making (TEC§ 11.251, 253); and certain references to student discipline (TEC Chapter 37) are also included in the guide.
This is part of the Agency's effort to provide support for educators and parents. If you have questions about the guide, please contact either the Parent Involvement and Community Empowerment Unit at (512) 475-3488 or the Division of Complaints Management at (512) 463-9290.
Respectfully,
Arturo Almendarez
Deputy Commissioner
Programs and Instruction
For further information on this topic, contact the Parent Involvement and Community Empowerment Unit at (512) 475-3488.