Richardson ISD's board is scheduled to vote Thursday night on a package of nine local policy revisions, most of them written to match laws passed in the Legislature's 89th session.
The changes are on the consent agenda for the board's 6 p.m. regular meeting. Each comes with a short memo from General Counsel Leticia McGowan explaining the reason for it.
For parents
- Instructional materials (EFA): A new section, prompted by Senate Bill 12, would require the superintendent to write procedures letting parents or guardians ask for a review of instructional materials, either on their own or through a petition with other parents.
- Lesson plans (EEP): A new policy, also tied to SB 12, adds the bill's recommended language on posting instructional plans and course syllabi and making them available to parents.
- Misconduct notices (FFF): Under House Bill 2, the student safety policy would cover telling a parent when a district employee or contractor is accused of misconduct involving their child.
Health and homebound students
- Homebound instruction (EEH): Following changes to the Texas Education Agency's attendance handbook, homebound services would be open to students with psychological conditions, not only medical ones, and the weeks a student is confined would no longer have to be consecutive to qualify.
- Medicine (FFAC): Reflecting Senate Bill 920, the policy would allow school employees, including nurses, to give nonprescription medication in line with legal requirements.
Safety and conduct
- Threats (FFB): A crisis intervention provision required by HB 2 covers the notice teachers must receive when someone threatens their campus.
- Special education cameras (EHBAF): Updates tied to HB 2 and Senate Bill 571 revise language on special education classrooms and change how quickly suspected misconduct or abuse must be reported.
- Recording in discipline (FO): The discipline policy would add rules for video and audio recorders: how they are used, what notice is given while they run and who can see the footage.
- Handguns on campus (GKA): Because of Senate Bill 706, the conduct-on-premises policy would recognize a valid handgun license from any state, not only Texas. Administrators also want campus security officers named among the district officials authorized under that policy.
Pre-K partnership waiver
Separately, trustees will consider letting the district seek a state waiver for its Head Start pre-K partnership with Child Care Group at Esperanza Community Center at Dobie. HB 2 now requires districts to pass at least 85% of funding through to private pre-K partners, but RISD instead provides three certified teachers to those classrooms.
The district wants to apply to TEA before its Oct. 30 deadline to stay in compliance for 2026-27 while the agency finishes writing rules.