November 2025 Committee on School Initiatives Item 6
Discussion of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship
November 20, 2025
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: DISCUSSION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: NO ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the committee to discuss proposed amendments to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship. The proposed amendments would reflect changes made by Senate Bill (SB) 204, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, to the State Board of Education's (SBOE's) duty to provide training courses for independent school district trustees.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.159(b-2), as added by SB 204, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
TEC, §11.159(b-2), as added by SB 204, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, 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 Texas Education Agency, must develop the curriculum and materials for the training.
The full text of statutory citation can be found in the link above.
FUTURE ACTION EXPECTED: The proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship, will be presented for first reading and filing authorization at a future SBOE meeting.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: TEC, §11.159, Member Training and Orientation, requires the SBOE to provide a training course for school board trustees. Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship, addresses this statutory requirement. School board trustee training under current SBOE rule includes a local school district orientation session; a basic orientation to the TEC; an annual team-building session with the local school board and the superintendent; specified hours of continuing education based on identified needs; training on evaluating student academic performance; training on identifying and reporting potential victims of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and other maltreatment of children; and school safety.
At its September 2025 meeting, the Committee on School Initiatives discussed the required parental rights training for school board 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 its January 2026 meeting.
Staff Members Responsible:
Steve Lecholop, Deputy Commissioner, Governance
Christopher Lucas, Director, Research, and Policy, Governance
Attachment I:
Text of SB 204, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, as enrolled
Attachment II:
19 TAC Chapter 61, School Districts, Subchapter A, Board of Trustees Relationship