This week, the Texas House passed Senate Bill 7, a measure that will strengthen criminal action against teachers who have inappropriate relationships with students, as well as their superiors who cover for them.
According to the Texas Tribune, SB7 “would require principals and superintendents to report teachers having inappropriate relationships with students or face a state jail felony or a fine of up to $10,000.”
The bill passed the Senate in March and is expected to head to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk this week. The bill seeks to penalize teachers who have inappropriate relationships, and the superiors who cover for them, with students both in and out of their districts.
In 2016, there were 222 investigations into inappropriate teacher-student relationships across the State of Texas.