·         18.9% seriously considered attempting suicide within the past 12 months

·         15.0% made a plan how they would commit suicide within the past 12 months 

·         10.0% actually attempted suicide one or more times within the past 12 months 

These concerns led the 86th Texas Legislative session to pass several bills relating to youth mental health in Texas public schools, including House Bill 18 and Senate Bill 11. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), High School YRBS data, Texas 2019 results, Retrieved from https://nccd.cdc.gov/Youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=TX

Source of Law: Federal Statutory Law

Link: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=20+usc+6301&f=treesort&fq=true&num=134&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title20-section6301

Summary: This law holds public schools accountable for how students learn and achieve. It aims to provide equity in education to all students, including those that require special education services. 

Citation: Every Student Succeeds Act, 20 U.S.C. § 6301 (2015)

Source of Law: State Statutory Law

Link: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.htm

Summary: House Bill 18 adds training on substance use disorders for new teacher certification and continuing education for classroom teachers to include educating students with a mental health condition, intellectual or developmental disabilities and students who engage in substance abuse. Continuing education for principals must not include effective implementation of a comprehensive school counseling program, mental health programs addressing mental health conditions, and educating students with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental health conditions or who engage in substance abuse.

Citation: Tex. Educ. Code § 21.054 Continuing Education. (2019). Retrieved from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.htm

Source of Law: State Statutory Law

Link: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm

Summary: A comprehensive school counseling program under Section 33.005 must now conform to the most recent edition of the Texas Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs developed by the Texas Counseling Association. The program meets the needs of all students, and the school system itself, through four components: Guidance Curriculum. Individual Planning, Responsive Services, and System Support.

Citation: Tex. Educ. Code § 33.005 Comprehensive School Counseling Programs. (2019). Retrieved from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/docs/ED/htm/ED.33.htm

Source of Law:State Statutory Law

Link: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/ED/htm/ED.38.htm

Summary: The Texas Education Agency must provide  one or more coordinated health programs for elementary, middle, and junior high school, that includes physical health education, mental health education, substance abuse education, physical education or activity, and parental involvement.  

Citation: Tex. Educ. Code § 38.013 Health and Safety. (2019). Retrieved from https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/SOTWDocs/ED/htm/ED.38.htm. 

Link: https://pol.tasb.org/Policy/Download/1059?filename=EHAA(LEGAL).pdf 

Summary: In addition to to the required foundation curriculum, the district will offer an enrichment curriculum that includes languages other than English and Health, with emphasis on physical health, including the importance of proper nutrition and exercise; mental health, including instruction about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and responsible decision making; physical education, fine arts, career and technology education, technology applications, religious literature, and personal financial literacy.

Citation: Richland Springs ISD. (2020). EHAA Legal. 

Source of Law: Local Administrative Law/Policy/Rule