The school board must act on a petition or set a hearing within 30 days, and the petitioner may present evidence. The board must grant the request unless it has a reasonable basis to deny it, and limited appeal steps are available.
Sec. 25.034. HEARING; ACTION ON PETITION; APPEAL. (a) On receiving a petition under Section 25.033, the board of trustees of the school district or the board of county school trustees shall: (1) if a hearing is not requested, act on the petition not later than the 30th day after the date the petition is submitted and notify the petitioner of the board's conclusion; or (2) if a hearing is requested, designate a time and place for holding a hearing not later than the 30th day after the date the petition is submitted. (b) If a hearing is requested, it shall be conducted by the board in compliance with this section. (c) The petitioner may present evidence relevant to the individual student. (d) The board may conduct investigations as to the objection or request, examine any student involved, and employ agents, professional or otherwise, for the purpose of examinations and investigations. (e) The board must grant the request made in the petition unless the board determines that there is a reasonable basis for denying the request. The decision of the board, either with or without hearing, is final unless the student, or the parent, guardian, or custodian of the student as next friend, files exception to the decision of the board as constituting a denial of any right of the student guaranteed under the United States Constitution. (f) If an exception is filed under Subsection (e), the board may reconsider its decision. If the board has not ruled on the exception before the 16th day after the date of the filing, the exception is considered overruled. If the exception is overruled, an appeal of the board's decision may be filed in the district court of the county in which the board is located. The petition must: (1) be filed not later than the 30th day after the date of the board's final decision; and (2) state the facts relevant to the student that relate to the alleged denial of the student's rights under the United States Constitution. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995.