Continuing Education Hours

School board members must complete continuing education training required by the State Board of Education (SBOE). Tex. Educ. Code § 11.159(b); 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 61.1. To the extent possible, entire boards are encouraged to participate in continuing education programs together. 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 61.1(i).

The SBOE is required to adopt a framework for governance leadership to be used in structuring continuing education for school board members, which must be posted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) website and be distributed annually by the president of each board of trustees to all current board members and the superintendent. 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 61.1(a). See TASB Policy BBD.

The SBOE requires eight training areas of continuing education for board members:

1. Local District Orientation (new members)

2. Orientation to the Texas Education Code (new members)

3. Update to the Texas Education Code (after regular legislative sessions and special sessions on education)

4. Team Building (annually with entire board and superintendent)

5. Additional Continuing Education (10 hours first year, 5 hours subsequent years)

6. Evaluating Student Academic Performance and Setting Goals (every two years) 

7. Identifying and Reporting Abuse and Trafficking (every two years)

8. School Safety (every two years)