SHAC Laws
What Legislation Pertains to SHACs?
School Health Advisory Councils were established in 1995 as Local School Health Education Advisory Council and Human Sexuality Instruction and were directed to assist the districts in ensuring the local community values were reflected in the district’s health education instruction. Over time this was revised and in 2001 the responsibilities and the composition of SHACs was modified by Senate bill 19 to require more parent engagement and have members appointed by the school board.
The role of SHACs has continued to evolve over the past 25+ years. You will find links to the different laws included here as well as a link to the Texas Education Agency Code which is the interpretation of those laws that school districts are mandated to follow.
Resources for SHAC Laws
Texas Education Code relating to School Health Advisory Councils
Once a law is passed, the Texas Education Agency interprets the intent of the law and puts the law into code. These codes are what districts use to establish their policies.
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.28.htm#28.004Senate Bill 19 (2001)
Requiring school districts to consider rcommendations of the SHAC on health education as well as other new requirements
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=77R&Bill=SB19SB 1357 (2003)
Changed the name to Local School Health Advisory Council and expanded the scope of SHACs to include all elements of a coordinated school health program
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=78R&Bill=SB1357SB 42 (2005)
Provided additional guidelines for SHACs and established a state level SHAC through the TX Dept of State Health Services to support coordinated school health
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=SB42SB 530 (2007)
Requires SHACS to review and make recommendation on recess
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=80R&Bill=SB530SB 283 (2009)
Outlined guidelines for SHACs communication with the school board and clarified other issues.
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=81R&Bill=SB283SB 283 (2009)
Requires SHACs to meet four times per year and provide a written report to the board and rquires a parent of student enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district serve as chair or co-chair.HB 1018 (2013)
Required SHACs to have a physical activity/fitness subcommittee, review joint use agreements for collaboration with school/community
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/Text.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=HB1018SB 460 (2013)
Added mental health concerns to topic areas for SHACs to consider policies, procedures and strategies for curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels.
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/83R/billtext/pdf/SB00460F.pdf#navpanes=0HB 1525 (2021)
Outlined meeting requirements for SHACs and process for convening, reviewing and recommending human sexuality/sex ed curriculum.
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/87R/billtext/html/HB01525F.htmSB 9 (2021)
Relating to SHAC recommending public school instruction and materials regarding the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence and sex trafficking and the adoption of public school policies to prevent dating violence.
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/872/billtext/html/SB00009F.htm
A SB 9 (87th Texas Legislature, Second-Called Session, 2021) FAQ document has been posted to the Health Education webpage of TX Education Agency. To view the FAQ document, CLICK HERE.
School Health Data
When you are talking about school health it is important to have data to support your concerns. There are several places you can go to find information and statistics relating to school health.
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