BROWNWOOD ISD

Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB 12), which went into effect on September 1, 2025, mandates that Texas school districts adopt a specific, tiered grievance process for parents and students. A key component of this legislation is strengthening parental rights and creating a clear pathway for them to address concerns. 

Steps of the SB 12 grievance process

1. Informal resolution: Parents are encouraged to first attempt to resolve the issue informally with the relevant staff member, such as a teacher or principal. If this is done, the deadline for filing a formal grievance is extended.
2. Level 1: Campus administrator: The formal grievance is first filed in writing with the campus principal or an administrator at the district's central office, depending on the subject matter.
3. Level 2: Superintendent: If the parent is not satisfied with the Level 1 decision, they can appeal to the superintendent or their designee. This appeal must be filed in writing.
4. Level 3: School board: If the superintendent's decision is unsatisfactory, the parent can file a final appeal to the school's board of trustees. The board may also delegate the hearing to a committee of board members.
5. Appeal to the Commissioner of Education: After exhausting the local grievance process, a parent can file a petition for review with the Texas Commissioner of Education for certain issues. Examples include grievances involving alleged violations related to DEI, sexual education, or open meetings. 

Filing deadlines

• Filing timeframe: A parent must file a grievance within 60 days of when they knew or should have known about the issue.
• Informal resolution extension: If informal resolution was attempted, the deadline is extended to 90 days from the date of the incident or 30 days from when the district provided grievance filing information.