November 2025 Committee on School Initiatives Item 5
Committee on School Initiatives Parental Rights Work Group and Parental Rights Handbook Updates
November 20, 2025
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to receive updates regarding the progress of the Parental Rights Work Group and findings to date, including the discussion of the training course syllabus along with updates from agency staff on the development of the Parental Rights Handbook.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.159(b-2) and §26.0025, as established by SB 204, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
TEC, §11.159(b-2) requires the SBOE to require a trustee to complete training on the rights of a parent regarding the education of the parent’s child. The SBOE, with assistance from the agency, must develop the curriculum and materials for the training.
TEC 26.0025 requires the Texas Education Agency to create and maintain a handbook that explains all rights of a parent regarding the education of the parent’s child, including a student’s rights that the parent may enforce on the student’s behalf.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the links above.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: Following the development of the training curriculum and materials, the board will approve the training curriculum and materials at a future meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: This item permits the SBOE to discuss the curriculum and materials for the required parental rights training for school district trustees. In order to meet the April 1, 2026 statutory deadline, the training curriculum and materials will be submitted to the SBOE for review and final approval at a future meeting.
The SBOE has adopted continuing education requirements for school board members in 19 TAC Chapter 61, Subchapter A. A proposed amendment to 19 TAC §61.1 to add the parental rights training requirement will be presented to the board for consideration at a future meeting.
Staff Members Responsible:
Marian Schutte, Associate Commissioner, Authorizing and Policy
Christopher Lucas, Director, Research and Policy, Governance
Steve Lecholop, Deputy Commissioner, Governance