Relating to providing for an election by the parent of a student who was victimized by a public school employee to transfer the student to another public school campus or receive funding for the student to attend private school.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Mayes Middleton and 1 co-sponsor

SB 1832 lets parents of students harmed by school staff transfer to another public school or receive funding for private school enrollment, bypassing traditional transfer processes.

Referred to Public Education

#crimes--againstpersons--sexual(i0171) #education #commissionerof(v9954) #education--primary&secondary--finance(i0250) #education--primary&secondary--otherschoolpersonnel(i0246) #education--primary&secondary--private(i0239) #education--primary&secondary--teachers(i0242) #family--parent&child(i0355) #minors--crimesagainst(i0532) #minors--health&safety(i0533) #transferstudents(s0251)

Legislative bill overview

SB 1832 would allow parents whose children have been victimized by a public school employee to choose either to transfer their student to another public school campus within the same district or receive state funding to attend a private school instead. The bill creates a new avenue for parents to exit their current school based on documented victimization incidents.

Why is this important

This addresses a real concern for families whose children have experienced harm at school—typically abuse, assault, or misconduct by staff—by providing immediate relief options rather than requiring them to navigate standard transfer processes. However, it fundamentally reshapes how school choice operates in Texas by linking private school funding eligibility to victimization incidents rather than broader educational preferences.

Potential points of contention

Definition and verification: The bill's language regarding what constitutes "victimized" and how schools verify claims could be contentious—does it require criminal conviction, investigation findings, or parental assertion?

Private school funding implications: Redirecting public school funds to private institutions based on individual incidents may raise questions about diverting resources and whether private schools receiving such students must meet comparable accountability standards

Liability and due process concerns: Schools and accused employees may argue the bill creates pressure to award transfers/funding before investigations conclude or allegations are substantiated, potentially affecting employee rights

Implementation costs: Determining which parent qualifies, processing transfers, calculating per-pupil funding transfers, and auditing private school participation could create administrative burdens