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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSchools across North Texas face an array of challenges. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSchools across North Texas face an array of challenges. \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Adobe Stock<\/p>\n
More and more North Texas students are walking out of classes in protest of immigration enforcement <\/a>as Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) threaten districts with consequences.<\/p>\n On Feb. 3, TEA officials released guidance <\/a>outlining penalties for teachers, schools and districts who \u201cfacilitate walkouts\u201d after Abbott called for an investigation into Austin ISD after protests<\/a> at 14 Austin ISD district campuses.\u00a0<\/p>\n Approximately 100 Haltom City High School students walked out of classrooms around 10 a.m. the next day.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis country was built on immigrants,\u201d one student said at the protest, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/a>.<\/p>\n And on Feb. 5, more than 150 students walked out of Forney and North Forney high schools, as first reported<\/a> by the Dallas Morning News. Protesters waved the flags of Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua and the United States, with one sign declaring \u201cYou can\u2019t love our culture but hate our people,\u201d the News reported. Students in Plano ISD and at Melissa High School also joined protests on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n The local walkouts mirror a broader nationwide backlash against ICE enforcement actions. Three major protests have broken out<\/a> in Dallas since the Jan. 7 fatal shooting<\/a> of 37-year-old Rennee Good amid an immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. The most recent demonstration took place five days after Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents during a Jan. 24 confrontation.<\/p>\n Since the start of January, student walkouts have been organized at North Texas schools, including Trimble Technical High, Richland High, Birdville High and L.D. Bell High.\u00a0<\/p>\n TEA guidance cautioned districts against the \u201cfacilitation of political activism\u201d using taxpayer dollars. The agency said school systems found to be in violation of state law could potentially face state takeover. Guidance also clarified that offending students must be marked absent, which would result in districts losing state funding tied to daily attendance figures.<\/p>\n In correspondence sent to families, Forney ISD told parents that the district did not condone students leaving class without permission.<\/p>\n \u201cOur staff cannot physically prevent a student from choosing to leave campus, but leaving during the school day for any reason without permission is considered an unexcused absence and subject to disciplinary consequences per the Texas Education Agency and our student code of conduct,\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n Faculty and Free Speech<\/p>\n Rena Honea, president of the American Federation of Teachers Local 2260, said vague language in the state\u2019s guidance may leave teachers uncertain of their responsibilities during walkouts.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a form of intimidation. I\u2019m not sure that educators are there to facilitate, and that\u2019s a pretty broad term,\u201d Honea said. \u201cWhat do they mean by \u2018facilitate?\u2019 If they are standing in the hallway as students are walking out, are they considering that as facilitation?\u201d<\/p>\n Teachers who are determined to have facilitated walkouts risk having their licenses revoked, according to the state\u2019s guidance. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath named Levi Fuller, a former special prosecutor in the Texas Attorney General\u2019s office, the state\u2019s first inspector general for educator misconduct on Wednesday. In that role, Fuller will provide guidance on disciplinary decisions, including certification sanctions and placement on the state\u2019s do-not-hire list.<\/p>\n