Essential Texas School Committee Compliance Strategies

Safety and Discipline Committees

Threat Assessment Team

TEC §37.115

Required Members:

• Principal / Assistant Principal
• Counselor
• Local Law Enforcement / School Resource Officer (SRO)

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluates behavioral threats.
• Implements safety interventions.
• Must be trained via the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC).

1A Panther Strategy: Cross-train your small team during the August Professional Development (PD) week so you are compliant before day one.

Placement Review Committee

TEC §37.003

Required Members:

• Two Elected Classroom Teachers
• One Alternate Teacher
• One Principal Appointee

Key Responsibilities:

• Rules on student placement if a teacher permanently removes a disruptive student from class.

1A Panther Strategy: Hold this campus election during your first faculty meeting so it is ready in case of a behavioral emergency.

Federal Compliance Committees

Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC)

19 TAC §89.1220

Required Members:

• Campus Administrator
• Certified ESL/Bilingual Teacher
• Non-employee Emergent Bilingual (EB) Parent

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviews data for English Learners.
• Determines program placement.
• Sets state testing accommodations.

1A Panther Strategy: Recruit an active booster club parent over the summer to easily fill your mandatory parent slot.

Section 504 Committee

34 CFR Part 104

Required Members:

• Minimum of three professionals who know the child, evaluations, and placements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Evaluates and monitors accommodations for students with medical or mental impairments (e.g., ADHD, dyslexia).

1A Panther Strategy: Keep this group nimble. It usually consists of yourself, the counselor, and the student's core teacher.

Site Governance Committees

Site-Based Decision-Making Committee

TEC §11.251 / §11.253

Required Members:

• Principal (Chair)
• Classroom Teachers (at least 2/3 of the committee)
• Parents, Community Members, and Business Representatives

Key Responsibilities:

• Approves the Campus Improvement Plan.
• Advises on budget and staffing.
• Approves campus-based Professional Development (PD).

1A Panther Strategy: Invite local Comstock business owners to sit in; they keep you connected and fill the community seats.

Attendance Review Committee

TEC §25.092

Required Members:

• Classroom Teachers (majority)
• Campus Administrator
• Counselor

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviews student attendance appeals.
• Decides if a student receives credit when violating the 90% attendance rule.

1A Panther Strategy: Convene this group right after end-of-semester grading blocks to handle appeals swiftly.

Individualized Student Support

ARD Committee

19 TAC §89.1050

Required Members:

• Principal or Administrative Representative
• Special Education Teacher
• General Education Teacher
• Parent

Key Responsibilities:

• Writes and reviews student Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
• Determines Special Education services.
• Sets individual testing criteria.

1A Panther Strategy: Floating membership. Schedule meetings back-to-back on designated days to protect general education conference periods.