On March 18, 2025, I had the honor of submitting testimony to the Texas House Public Education Committee in support of House Bill 6 at the State Capitol in Austin. I genuinely appreciate Chairman Buckley and the committee members for the opportunity to share my perspective. I have always believed that those who serve in our state legislature are committed to doing what is right for the citizens of Texas, and I was proud to contribute to that process.

House Bill 6 aims to provide greater local authority and flexibility in addressing student behavior and discipline in the classroom. This approach is intended to benefit students, teachers, and administrators alike.

My testimony was rooted in over 30 years of experience as an educator—first as a classroom teacher, then as a campus and district administrator, and now as a superintendent for the past fifteen years. I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and triumphs that come with shaping the educational journeys of our students.

While I understand and respect that previous legislative efforts—particularly changes to Chapter 37—were likely crafted with good intentions, I felt compelled to address a growing concern. I recognized that some policies were designed with vulnerable students in mind, especially those facing behavioral challenges through no fault of their own.

However, throughout my testimony, I emphasized the need to also advocate for the students who come to school each day ready to learn, who work hard to achieve academic success, and whose progress is often disrupted by a small but persistent group of students who consistently distract from the learning environment.

I advocated for our dedicated teachers—professionals who have exhausted every known classroom management strategy, often with limited success, while trying to maintain a productive learning space for all. I also communicated on behalf of our school administrators, who invest time and energy into building relationships with every student, including those whose behaviors challenge the classroom environment and compromise the focus on learning.

I supported the commonsense provisions outlined in HB 6 because they offer practical tools and restore local control to our districts. These measures empower our educators—those closest to the classroom—to use their professional judgment in managing student behavior and upholding the integrity of the learning environment. Our teachers and principals are the experts in this work, and they deserve the ability to apply the very strategies proposed in this legislation to help restore order and raise expectations for all students.

The behavioral challenges we see today are not isolated—they often result from social and emotional gaps that widened during the pandemic, particularly for students who lacked supportive family structures. HB 6 acknowledges that reality and provides school districts with the flexibility and tools to respond effectively.

Testifying on behalf of this important bill was both a professional responsibility and a personal commitment to the students and staff of Goose Creek CISD—and to all public schools across our great state. I remain hopeful that HB 6 will move forward and bring about the meaningful change our educators and students deserve.

Dr. Randal O’Brien

Superintendent of Schools