The Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 13, voted to pass House Bill 1368, authored by Dallas Democrat Rep. Venton Jones requiring schools to notify parents when their child’s campus lacks a full-time nurse, school counselor or librarian for at least 30 consecutive days during the school year, according to a press release from Jones’ office.
“Parents shouldn’t have to find out on their own that a key instructional position at their child’s school has gone unfilled,” Jones said. “They deserve transparency and timely information to ensure they have the information they need to make the best choices for their child’s well-being and education.”
Under HB 1368, schools must notify parents in writing or post it on the district website. The bill was developed in response to “increasing concerns from families and public education advocates about these critical student support positions going unfilled for significant portions of the school year,” Jones’ press release noted. “School nurses, counselors and librarians play vital roles in supporting students’ physical, emotional, and academic well-being.
Jones said, “This bill is not about mandates; it is about mutual trust between families and schools. Notifying parents is the bare minimum we can do to support transparency and ensure families aren’t left in the dark about the state of their schools or the support available to their students.”
House, HB 1368 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
— Tammye Nash