School administrators and officers are able to act without the permission, or consent, of a student's parent or guardian in many instances when a student is at school.
If a student is under arrest at school, law enforcement must give prompt notice to the student’s parent or guardian that the student is in police custody. Officers do NOT have to notify parents or guardians when students who are 17 years old or older are arrested outside of school because 17-year-olds are considered adults in Texas.
Each school year, every Texas school district must provide parents information regarding the Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct describes when a parent or guardian is required to be notified of certain actions. A student’s parent or guardian should be contacted if the student is suspended, removed to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP), or expelled. Depending on the district, there may not be a requirement that a parent is notified for other types of discipline. The law requires that each school designate a person to be the "Campus Behavior Coordinator." It is this person's job to notify parents or guardians when students are disciplined.
Student Codes of Conduct can be found on school district websites and can be requested at campus and district offices.
Some examples of Texas district policies are below:
Houston ISD: The Student Code of Conduct categorizes levels of offenses by students and corresponding disciplinary action into five levels. Level I means an offense that generally occurs in the classroom and can be corrected by the teacher. Levels II-V range from repeating Level I offenses up to those offenses for which a student may be expelled. A parent/guardian must be notified when there is a Level II-V offense.
Dallas ISD: The Student Code of Conduct requires prompt notification of a parent or guardian whenever a student is suspended or expelled or if a student is taken into custody by a law enforcement officer under the provisions of the Texas Education Code.
Fort Worth ISD: The Student Code of Conduct states that the parent is notified by the Campus Behavior Coordinator for suspensions, placement in a disciplinary program, and expulsions.