School districts must adopt and implement a trauma-informed care policy and support it with training, records, and required plan inclusion.
Sec. 38.036. TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE POLICY. (a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a policy requiring the integration of trauma-informed practices in each school environment. A district must include the policy in the district improvement plan required under Section 11.252. (b) A policy required by this section must address: (1) using resources developed by the agency, methods for: (A) increasing staff and parent awareness of trauma-informed care; and (B) implementation of trauma-informed practices and care by district and campus staff; and (2) available counseling options for students affected by trauma or grief. (c) The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for increasing awareness and implementation of trauma-informed care must include training as provided by this subsection. The training must: (1) be provided: (A) through a program selected from the list of recommended best practice-based programs and research-based practices established under Section 38.351; (B) in accordance with the policy adopted under Section 21.4515; and (C) as part of any new employee orientation for all new school district educators; and (2) address how grief and trauma affect student learning and behavior and how evidence-based, grief-informed, and trauma-informed strategies support the academic success of students affected by grief and trauma. (c-1) The training under Subsection (c) may include two or more listed topics together. (d) For any training under Subsection (c), each school district shall maintain records that include the district staff members who participated in the training. (e) Repealed by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (S.B. 1267), Sec. 24(11), eff. June 18, 2021. (f) If a school district determines that the district does not have sufficient resources to provide the training required under Subsection (c), the district may partner with a community mental health organization to provide training that meets the requirements of Subsection (c) at no cost to the district. (g) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this section. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 464 (S.B. 11), Sec. 18, eff. June 6, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 915 (H.B. 3607), Sec. 5.012, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (S.B. 1267), Sec. 19, eff. June 18, 2021. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1045 (S.B. 1267), Sec. 24(11), eff. June 18, 2021.