Conroe ISD Expands State Rules on Classroom Speech and Parental Notification

Following an extensive review and discussion, the Board of Trustees for the Conroe Independent School District approved a set of policy revisions on Tuesday, aligning with new Texas laws and, in some instances, exceeding the requirements set forth by the legislation.

Recent approvals reflect the provisions of Senate Bill 12, which prohibits school staff from assisting students with “social transitioning.” The legislation specifies that the practice involves adopting a different name or pronouns to represent a gender identity that is not aligned with the sex assigned to the student at birth.

Initially, the district considered offering parents the option to request alternative pronouns for their children; however, trustees ultimately decided to remove this provision from the policy. Board members expressed concerns that even requests approved by parents might still breach SB 12.

The district has made another change related to SB 12, enhancing the rules for notifying parents about human sexuality instruction. In a significant update, Conroe ISD has revised its policy to require a 30-day advance notice and parental consent for student participation in lessons, surpassing the state law's 14-day notice requirement. Parents will additionally get a consent form that includes “more specific and detailed information” regarding the course content than what is mandated by law.

“These changes guarantee adherence to legal standards and provide parents with greater clarity,” Superintendent David Vinson stated. He stated that the board plans to introduce 12 additional new or revised policies in November.

Trustees have broadened the limitations on classroom content, extending beyond the parameters established by House Bill 3979, a 2021 law that bans discussions of contentious social or political topics in social studies classes. Conroe ISD has updated its policy to encompass all subjects and includes a provision that prohibits expressions deemed “anti-American or unpatriotic.”

Kara Belew, the district attorney, stated that the board's added language fails to clarify what qualifies as anti-American or unpatriotic remarks. “The responsibility lies with your superintendent to clarify and establish what that entails,” Belew informed the board. “Naturally, he needs to return and update you on his progress.”

The revised policies reflect a significant shift among Texas school districts as they enhance classroom regulations and increase parental involvement in response to recent state directives.

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