Texas is one of only 23 states in the United States that still allows corporal punishment in schools (including charter schools). Thousands of young Texans are hit in their schools every year, despite research showing that corporal punishment harms students physically, emotionally, socially, and academically and creates unsafe school climates.

The Texas Legislature has the power to stop this outdated, harmful and unnecessary form of school-based violence and must use that power immediately.

Today, IDRA released, Hitting Hurts – The Case for Ending Corporal Punishment in Texas, by Morgan Craven, J.D., & Joanna D. Sánchez, Ph.D.

See IDRA's New Interactive Map on Corporal Punishment in Texas

IDRA’s newest map shows corporal punishment data for public school districts in Texas. You can see the number of incidents in each school district or legislative district. 

The House and Senate education committees heard bills related to school censorship last week, particularly of LGBTQ+-related celebrations, texts and materials. Legislators continue to discuss these bills in relation to harmful material and obscenity, though the proposals are part of a deeper push to undermine protections for students based on their racial and gender identity. The Senate Education Committee voted 10-2 to pass SB 8 on to the full Senate, a bill that censors discussions of gender and sexuality as well as creating private school vouchers (education savings accounts).

Relatedly, the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education discussed SB 18, which would discontinue academic tenure for instructors in high education institutions. This would disproportionately affect faculty of color and those who teach and research in subjects related to race, gender and ethnic studies.

IDRA and TLEEC submitted testimony against HB 1507, which targeted school district celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride Weeks and other acknowledgments of diverse relationships, SB 2089 which imposed additional censoring language on instructional materials, and SB 13 which authorizes subjective book-banning protocols in school libraries.

School Libraries Must Be Reflective and Inclusive of All Students – IDRA Testimony against SB 13, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 29, 2023

Incentives for Instructional Materials that Enforce Classroom Censorship Compromise Student Education – IDRA Testimony against SB 2565, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 29, 2023

Texas Should Prioritize Supporting Students and Educators, Not Expanding School Police and Guardians – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 13, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, March 27, 2023 – See video

Public Schools are for All Students and All Families – IDRA Testimony HB 1507, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Public Education Committee, March 28, 2023

HB 3 Offers an Illusion of Safety but Fails to Invest in Real Solutions for Safe and Supportive Schools – IDRA Testimony Against House Bill 3, submitted by Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., to the Texas House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety, March 27, 2023 – See video

Students Suffer Under Classroom Censorship – TLEEC Testimony against SB 2089, submitted to the Texas Senate Education Committee, March 29, 2023

SB 18 is an Assault on Academic Freedom and Freedom of Speech – TLEEC Testimony on SB 18: Tenure and Faculty Employment, Submitted to Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, March 30, 2023