Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Discipline And Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Central ISD staff cites House Bill 6, outlines approach for students experiencing homelessness and restorative practices
Summary
District staff told the Board that House Bill 6 will allow schools to suspend some students who qualify under the McKinney‑Vento Act for repeated or severe disruptions, and said the district verified the housing status of affected students and is planning corrective actions and restorative-practices training.
A staff member for East Central ISD told the Board of Trustees that recent state legislation, referred to in the meeting as House Bill 6, changes how students experiencing homelessness may be disciplined under certain conditions.
The staff member said, “house bill 6 now allows us to suspend students who are out of school suspension that qualify for McKinney Vento if they have repeated or significant disruption or they threaten the safety of others.” They said this reverses a prior restriction and that the district will put corrective actions in place before the change takes effect in September.
The presenter described district follow-up steps related to a specific group of students who were the subject of a recent review. “We verified that all of the students who were classified… they all have a stable home. They none of them live in shelters. None of them live on the streets,” the staff member said, noting that while some students carried broad classifications, they do not live in shelters or on the streets. The presenter added the district will continue to provide training for campuses on restorative practices for students who qualify for community supports.
Why this matters: the McKinney‑Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides federal protections and services for students experiencing homelessness; changes in state law that adjust disciplinary discretion for those students affect district policy, student supports and potential suspension decisions. The district said it is preparing corrective actions and training ahead of the policy change.
Discussion and next steps: staff described ongoing verification of student housing status, planned corrective actions, and training for restorative practices on campuses. The transcript records the staff presentation and statements of intent; it does not record any formal board vote or the adoption of new discipline procedures during the meeting.
What remains to be clarified: the meeting transcript uses the term "House Bill 6" but does not cite a specific legislative session number or statutory citation, and staff said the disciplinary change would take effect in September; the district did not provide the specific implementation date or updated discipline policy language in the meeting.
The district also recognized the role of family support and external services in student success; staff attributed students' success to stable housing and emphasized corrective actions and training to support affected students.
