SB197 - Relating to training requirements for public school board of trustees members and superintendents regarding the adoption of a trauma-informed school standard.

  89R3958 JDK-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 197       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to training requirements for public school board of   trustees members and superintendents regarding the adoption of a   trauma-informed school standard.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 11, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 11.004 to read as follows:           Sec.   11.004.     TRAINING FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND   SUPERINTENDENTS REGARDING TRAUMA-INFORMED SCHOOL STANDARD. (a)   Each member of the board of trustees and the superintendent of a   school district must complete an agency-approved course of   instruction regarding the adoption and administration of a   trauma-informed school standard. A course required under this   section must be completed:                 (1)     by a school board member, on election or   reelection; or                 (2)  by a superintendent, every four years.           (b)     A course of instruction described by Subsection (a) must   provide information, relevant to and within the scope of the duties   of a school board member or superintendent, regarding:                 (1)     recognition of and care for trauma in students and   educators;                 (2)     the relationship between educator wellness and   student learning;                 (3)     the effect of trauma on student behavior and   learning;                 (4)     the prevalence of trauma among students, including   the prevalence of trauma among student populations at higher risk   of experiencing trauma;                 (5)     the effects of implicit or explicit bias on   recognizing trauma among various racial or ethnic groups of   students; and                 (6)     effective district and campus policies and   practices shown to:                       (A)     prevent and mitigate the negative effect of   trauma on student behavior and learning; and                       (B)  support the emotional wellness of educators.           (c)     A school district shall submit for agency approval any   course of instruction identified by the district as satisfying the   requirements of Subsection (b).             (d)     The agency may approve both in-person and online courses   of instruction to satisfy the requirements of this section,   including courses provided by community-based nonprofit   organizations with expertise concerning trauma-informed school   standards.           (e)     The State Board of Education shall propose rules that   allow:                 (1)     a school board member to satisfy the training   requirements under Section 11.159 for completion of the training   required under this section; and                 (2)     a superintendent to receive credit toward the   superintendent's continuing education requirements under Section   21.054 for completion of the training required under this section.          SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2025, the Texas   Education Agency shall approve one or more courses of instruction   to satisfy the training requirements of Section 11.004, Education   Code, as added by this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.