Action Alert

Stop HB 6: Punitive and Harmful School Discipline

Call or email the Senate Education K-16 committee members. Feel free to personalize with the talking points below and with any particular anecdotes and experiences you would like to share.  It's critical to contact your state senator, especially if they sit on the Senate Committee on Education K-16, which is hearing this bill.

You can find your senator using the official Texas Legislature tool: https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

Call Script
“Hello, my name is [say your name] and I live in [name the town and/or school district you live in]. I am calling to urge [Legislator’s Name] to vote no on House Bill 6. This bill harms students through the use of punitive zero tolerance practices.

This bill would allow for our youngest students in pre-kindergarten through 2nd grade to be suspended for a one time disruption, allow for unlimited in school suspension placements, and allow the courts to be involved in disciplinary actions. [If you have an example, please share it!]

The bill will disproportionately impact vulnerable students, especially those with disabilities, and risks placing more kids in the school-to-prison pipeline. HB 6 would be a step backwards for our students and we need to prioritize providing support to our schools, teachers, and students.

Please vote no to HB 6 when it comes up for a vote. Thank you very much for your time and attention.”

Talking Points 

• The bill’s broad language makes it easier to suspend or remove students, especially younger children, for vague or minor disruptions. This risks pushing the most vulnerable students-such as those with disabilities or behavioral challenges out of the classroom instead of supporting them.
• Historically, exclusionary discipline policies have disproportionately impacted students of color, students with disabilities, and those from low-income backgrounds. This bill risks worsening those inequities
• Instead of investing in counselors, mental health resources, or positive behavioral supports, the bill focuses on exclusion and punishment, which research shows does not improve school safety or student outcomes.
• By expanding grounds for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and allowing indefinite in-school suspensions, the bill doubles down on punitive practices that have not worked in the past and are linked to higher dropout rates.
• The bill rolls back reforms from 2017 that protected pre-K through second grade students from suspension for non-violent behavior, allowing even very young children to be removed from school for being disruptive
• The bill allows districts to place disciplined students in virtual disciplinary programs, where engagement and support are minimal, yet districts still receive full funding. This could incentivize schools to exclude rather than help struggling students