S.B. No. 27 seeks to enhance the rights and support for public school educators in Texas by amending various sections of the Education Code. Key changes include reducing the notice period for filling vacant teaching positions from ten to five school days, which allows districts to fill positions more quickly while still providing current employees the opportunity to apply. The bill also introduces a new provision for calculating salary reductions for unpaid leave based on the employee's daily rate of pay, determined by dividing the annual salary by the number of expected workdays in the school year. Additionally, it establishes a grant program to reimburse school districts and charter schools for increased contributions to the Teacher Retirement System when hiring retired teachers and allows teachers to opt not to use paid personal leave concurrently with unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act for certain absences.

Moreover, the bill mandates the development of training and technical assistance for school districts and charter schools focused on teacher quality, including strategic compensation, staffing, and scheduling to promote professional growth and retention. It requires the collection of data on teacher retention and recruitment to better understand and address vacancies in teaching positions. The legislation also modifies existing provisions regarding student removal from classrooms, allowing teachers to remove students for disruptive behavior while ensuring parental notification. It emphasizes the need for a return-to-class plan for removed students, which must be discussed in a conference involving the teacher. Additionally, the bill mandates the establishment of threat assessment teams in school districts to enhance safety protocols and communication regarding potential threats, ultimately aiming to create a more supportive environment for both teachers and students.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 11.1513, Education Code 21.105, Education Code 21.160, Education Code 21.210, Education Code 21.257, Education Code 37.002 (Education Code 11, Education Code 37, Education Code 21)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 11.1513, Education Code 21.105, Education Code 21.160, Education Code 21.210, Education Code 21.257, Education Code 26.011, Education Code 37.002, Government Code 825.4092 (Education Code 37, Government Code 825, Education Code 21, Education Code 11, Education Code 26)
Engrossed: Education Code 11.1513, Education Code 21.105, Education Code 21.160, Education Code 21.210, Education Code 21.257, Education Code 26.011, Education Code 37.002, Government Code 825.4092 (Education Code 37, Government Code 825, Education Code 21, Education Code 11, Education Code 26)
House Committee Report: Education Code 11.1513, Education Code 21.105, Education Code 21.160, Education Code 21.210, Education Code 21.257, Education Code 26.011, Education Code 37.002, Government Code 825.4092 (Education Code 37, Government Code 825, Education Code 21, Education Code 11, Education Code 26)