Sec. 25.043. CLASSROOM PLACEMENT OF MULTIPLE BIRTH SIBLINGS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Multiple birth sibling" means a twin, triplet, quadruplet, or other sibling resulting from a multiple birth.
(2) "Parent" includes a person standing in parental relation.
(b) The parent of multiple birth siblings who are assigned to the same grade level and school may request in writing, not later than the 14th day after the first day of enrollment, that the school place the siblings in the same classroom or in separate classrooms.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (g), a school shall provide the multiple birth siblings with the classroom placement requested by the parent.
(d) At the end of the first grading period following the multiple birth siblings' enrollment in the school, if the principal of the school, in consultation with the teacher of each classroom in which the multiple birth siblings are placed, determines that the requested classroom placement is disruptive to the school, the principal may determine the appropriate classroom placement for the siblings.
(e) A parent may appeal the principal's classroom placement of multiple birth siblings in the manner provided by school district policy. During an appeal, the multiple birth siblings shall remain in the classroom chosen by the parent.
(f) The school may recommend to a parent the appropriate classroom placement for the multiple birth siblings and may provide professional educational advice to assist the parent with the decision regarding appropriate classroom placement.
(g) A school district is not required to place multiple birth siblings in separate classrooms if the request would require the school district to add an additional class to the grade level of the multiple birth siblings.
(h) This section does not affect:
(1) a right or obligation under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, or under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.) regarding the individual placement decisions of the school district admission, review, and dismissal committee; or
(2) the right of a school district or teacher to remove a student from a classroom under Chapter 37.
Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (H.B. 314), Sec. 1, eff. May 15, 2007.
Last modified: September 28, 2016