Educational policy in Texas officially recognizes the exceptional authority teachers have over their students, and asserts that this authority comes with an exceptional level of responsibility. Teachers must be morally fit and not demonstrate moral turpitude (the latter includes participation in illegal, dishonest, or abusive activities). Texas state code defines "abuse" as "mental or emotional injury to a student or minor" that "results in an observable and material impairment in the student's or minor's development, learning or psychological functioning," or "causing or permitting a student or minor to be in a situation in which the student or minor sustains a mental or emotional injury that results in an observable and material impairment in the student's or minor's development, learning or psychological functioning." Such actions can include verbal abuse.
Individuals who wish to file official complaints about verbal abuse or other teacher misconduct can do so by writing a detailed letter to the State Board of Educator Certification deputy associate commissioner. The letter should include a detailed account of the alleged abuse, along with names and contact information of the teacher, the student and any witnesses to the alleged abuse. Complaints deemed worthy of investigation are filed at the State Office of Administration Hearings, and each case hearing is presided over by an administrative law judge.
Sanctions for teachers can vary according to the severity of abuse. The toughest sanctions include permanent revocation of teaching certification as well as forced withdrawal from one's teaching position. Lesser sanctions include written reprimands (which may or may not become part of one's permanent certification file, depending on the severity of the abuse) and temporary suspension of certification.
Texas law also makes allowances for rehabilitation of problem teachers. Teachers can be reinstated for showing convincing evidence of rehabilitation, but the reinstatement process also takes into consideration the severity of past misconduct, repeat misconduct and the amount of time since the last reported misconduct.