All students should feel safe and expect fair treatment in their schools. Because students with disabilities are at a higher risk of being punished, having contact with school police, and entering the juvenile justice system—sometimes for behaviors that are not new or unanticipated—school and district administrators must make additional considerations about how to best protect and support students with disabilties.
In this guide you will find information about ensuring that students with disabilities receive the services they need from their schools and are fairly and appropriately protected and kept safe on their campuses.
This guide is not meant to provide legal advice, either general or specific. For legal advice, you should consult a lawyer. Legal aid or the Texas State Bar may be able to help you find a lawyer. If the impacted student has a disability, Disability Rights Texas may be able to help. If the impacted student has a disciplinary issue at a public school and lives in the greater Houston area, the Juvenile and Children’s Advocacy Project may be able to help.