Northside ISD staff begin implementing Senate Bill 12; officials urge standardized consent forms and principal guidance

Janice Jordan, a district administrator, told the Academics Committee that Senate Bill 12 has been "engrossed" and "it is state law," and staff are prioritizing rapid, standardized steps to comply.

Why it matters: The measure includes multiple provisions expanding parental rights and restricting certain instructional activities, touching health and counseling consent, access to curriculum, restrictions on DEI-related duties, and rules related to social transitioning, names and pronouns. School staff and trustees said they want consistent, districtwide practices so principals and teachers do not create uneven campus responses.

What administrators said: Jordan and district staff said they used a TASA summary in the packet to guide initial implementation. Staff described immediate measures already in place: a standardized parental-consent form for nursing and counseling services (which had about a 50% parental return rate early in rollout), a vetted library-materials list distributed to campus librarians, and administrative procedures to guide campus staff on pronoun use and other operational questions. Jordan told the committee the district has begun “putting in place administrative procedures” for the most urgent items and will apply TASB policy update 126 when it is released.

On enforcement and teacher concerns: Trustees asked whether the bill’s language — including a provision prohibiting district employees from assisting students with social transitioning — leaves teachers at risk of personnel action. Dr. Janice Jordan told the committee the district will continue to assist students in a time of need and "we will defend coming to the aid of a student, in the time of need, and then we'll deal with a consent fallout" later, while encouraging principals to consult central staff or legal counsel when uncertain.

How staff are advising principals: District staff said the campus principal remains the first point of contact for parents or staff with questions about clubs, curriculum or classroom activities. If a principal cannot resolve a concern, staff directed campus teams to central office points of contact (including curriculum and legal counsel) and to the district’s Northside Communication Network for additional support. For clubs specifically, staff reiterated that a campus must have a sponsor, and that some limitations stem from sponsor availability rather than the statute itself.

Procurement and contracting: Committee members asked whether the law affects contracting with HUBs and minority- or women-owned firms. Staff pointed to statutory language included in the summary that allows contracting "in accordance with applicable state law" and said current HUB and minority-owned business contracts remain valid; the district will follow state law and clarify procurement guidance as needed.

Next steps and timing: Administrators said TASB policy update 126 is expected before Thanksgiving and will drive formal policy updates; TEA is also issuing guidance and the commissioner has posted an implementation timeline online. District staff said they will continue to issue standardized administrative procedures and training for principals, nurses and counselors while awaiting the full policy revisions.

Sources: Statements and answers to trustees' questions during the Northside ISD Academics Committee meeting on Oct. 30, 2025. Excerpted committee remarks included: "it is state law" (Janice Jordan) and "we will defend coming to the aid of a student, in the time of need" (Janice Jordan).

What’s next: Staff said they will circulate TASB update 126 to principals when it is available, continue to standardize consent forms and campus-level guidance, and return to the board with policy drafts once TASB and TEA guidance permit formal adoption.