HB 6

"HB 6 – The Texas Discipline Law That Changes Everything (But No One's Talking About It)

Texas just passed House Bill 6, a law that gives schools and teachers new powers to remove students from class—but there’s more under the surface than most people realize.

Here’s what HB 6 says it does:

Gives teachers more authority to remove “disruptive” students from class—even after a single incident.

Lets schools create “return-to-class” plans that must be followed before a student can come back.

Expands how long principals can suspend students (even little kids in 1st or 2nd grade).

Allows schools to set up virtual alternative education programs (online “discipline school”).

Encourages crisis training for parents of special education students.

Sounds reasonable, right? Here's the fine print Texans need to know:

A single incident can get your child removed from class—indefinitely.
The teacher can decide whether your child comes back. Parents don’t get a guaranteed say, and there’s no appeal process.

Students with disabilities just lost a key protection.
Before HB 6, schools had to evaluate if a behavior was related to a child’s disability before disciplining them. HB 6 removes that safeguard.

Virtual “discipline schools” can be created—with no rules, no standards, and no oversight.
That means a district can kick a student out of class and stick them in a screen-based program run by a private company, without TEA review or accountability.

Charter schools get special new powers to reject students.
If a student has a criminal conviction—even unrelated to school—they can now be excluded from charter campuses that include childcare facilities.

Teachers and staff are given blanket immunity from discipline lawsuits.
If a teacher removes a student in “good faith,” they’re shielded from almost all consequences—even in cases of bias or repeated misuse.

Why this matters:
This law may look like it’s about classroom discipline, but it quietly shifts power away from families and students—and into the hands of school administrators, charters, and potentially private vendors.

Who benefits?

Charter schools (more control over who they admit)

Private companies offering “virtual discipline” programs

School administrators (more authority, less oversight)

Crisis training vendors for special education families

Who loses?

Students with disabilities

Black and brown students (already over-disciplined in Texas)

Low-income families with fewer options

Parents who want a voice in their child’s education

Bottom line:
HB 6 changes how public schools in Texas treat discipline—and it does so without proper safeguards, review processes, or equity protections. It opens the door for privatized discipline, unfair removals, and unchecked authority in the classroom.

This isn’t about keeping classrooms safe. It’s about control, contracts, and who gets to belong in public education."