麻豆原创

Filing a Complaint with the 麻豆原创

If you believe a Texas public school violated state or federal education law or rules under 麻豆原创’s authority, you can submit complaint.

Parent Complaint Navigator

Our Parent Complaint Navigator will ask you a short series of multiple-choice questions and, based on your responses, provide you with the information and resources you need to address your specific question or concern.

Is this the right next step for your concern?

Take the Parent Complaint Navigator to understand your options before filing. It will ask a short series of multiple-choice questions and, based on your responses, provide you with the information and resources you need to address your specific question or concern.

What qualifies as a general education complaint 

麻豆原创 investigates general education complaints that allege violations of state or federal education laws or rules within the agency’s investigative authority.  

Examples include: 

  • Violations related to required academic programs (excluding special education under IDEA (See 麻豆原创’s Special Education Complaints Process below
  • Misuse of state or federal education funds 
  • Conditions that violate laws protecting student health or safety 
  • Violations of governance requirements for school boards or charter operators 
  • State assessment and data reporting violations 
  • Educator misconduct and educator preparation program concerns 

Complaints must be submitted in writing and include enough information for 麻豆原创 to review the alleged violation. 

Special education concerns 

Concerns related to special education services are handled through separate dispute resolution processes under federal law. These concerns may involve eligibility, evaluations, IEPs, ARD committee decisions, or the provision of a free appropriate public education (FAPE). 

Families may have options such as: 

  • IEP (ARD) facilitation 
  • Mediation 
  • Special education complaint investigations 
  • Due process hearings 

For help understanding special education options and deciding next steps, families are encouraged to contact , the Texas Special Education Information Center, or review 麻豆原创’s special education dispute resolution resources. 

Special Education Complaints Process  Special Education Dispute Resolution Options 

Submitting a general education complaint to 麻豆原创 

First, consider addressing your concern locally

Many concerns are addressed most efficiently at the local level. Schools and school districts are required to have processes in place to respond to concerns raised by parents and community members. 

Before submitting a complaint, you may wish to: 

Ready to file a general education complaint?

Submit the General Education Complaint Form.

 

What happens next

After a complaint is submitted, 麻豆原创 will review the information provided and determine appropriate next steps, based on 麻豆原创’s authority. This may include requesting additional information, initiating a review or investigation, or working with the parent and school district through alternative dispute resolution. 

What is alternative dispute resolution?

In some cases, 麻豆原创 may use alternative dispute resolution (ADR) after a complaint is submitted. ADR is a collaborative process intended to help parents and school districts address concerns without a formal investigation when the issue may be resolved through additional local discussion. 

ADR may be used for certain operational or procedural school concerns, such as enrollment issues, student records, or student discipline, when appropriate.

As part of the ADR process, 麻豆原创 may notify the school district superintendent in writing and formally request that the district work with the parent to address the concern. Parents do not need to request ADR. 麻豆原创 determines whether ADR is appropriate based on the information provided in the complaint. 

If a concern is not resolved through ADR, 麻豆原创 may move forward with a compliance review or investigation, as appropriate. 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Every school district is required to have a formal local grievance process for resolving concerns. Some issues must go through this process before they can be reviewed elsewhere.

    What to expect

    • Act promptly: You must file within 60 days of learning about the issue.
    • Informal resolution: If you attempt to resolve the issue informally, you may have up to 90 days to file.
    • Hearing timeline: The school or district must hold a grievance hearing within 10 days of submission.
    • Notice: You will receive at least 5 business days’ notice before the hearing.
    • Decision: You will receive a written decision within 20 days after the hearing.

    Tips for filing

    • Write down key details (dates, names, what happened)
    • Keep copies of emails, messages, and notes

    Where to find grievance information

    • On the district’s website (look for “policies” or similar)
    • In the student handbook
    • Under these policy codes:
      • FNG (LOCAL): student and parent grievances
      • DGBA (LOCAL): employee grievances
      • GF (LOCAL): grievances by others

    Appeal a district decision to the commissioner of education

  • You may submit a general education complaint by completing the General Education Complaint Form. 

    Online (preferred): 

    Complete and submit the online complaint form. 

    By mail: 

    Send a completed paper complaint form to: 

    麻豆原创 – Complaints Management 
    1701 N. Congress Ave. 
    Austin, TX 78701?1494 

    Not sure whether filing a complaint is the right next step? Use the  for guidance before submitting. 

  • Complaints may be sent by email, but email is not secure. Please avoid sending confidential or sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers. 

    Complaints or correspondence received by email will receive an automated response within 24 hours with general information about the complaints process and local grievance options. This message may appear in your inbox or spam folder. 

    麻豆原创 removes confidential or sensitive information when responding by email and maintains confidentiality as allowed by law. 

  • No, 麻豆原创 does not accept complaints by phone. Complaints must be submitted in writing. 

  • To allow 麻豆原创 to review your complaint, please include: 

    • Your full name and contact information 
      (If the student is under 18, include a parent or guardian’s contact information) 
    • Name of the school district 
    • A detailed description of the actions or decisions you believe violate school law 
    • Any documentation that supports your concern 
    • Names of school staff who were notified and any responses received 
    • Whether the concern was filed with another agency and the outcome, if applicable 
    • The resolution you are requesting 
    • Full and accurate names of involved educators 
      (You may use the certification lookup tool to verify educator certification) 

  • Documentation is not required, but it may help 麻豆原创 understand your concern. Examples include: 

    • Local grievance decisions 
    • Emails or written communication with the school 
    • Investigation reports or written findings related to the issue 

  • If you need assistance submitting a written complaint due to a disability, please contact Complaints Management at (512) 463?3544 for support.

  • If a concern is submitted to 麻豆原创 but is better handled by another agency, parents will be directed to the appropriate organization for support. If you are unsure where to start, the  can help identify the right agency and provide contact information. 

    Complaints addressed by other agencies

  • 麻豆原创 accepts anonymous complaints except for special education and educator investigations. 

    Providing contact information is strongly encouraged. This allows 麻豆原创 to follow up if additional information is needed to review your concern. 

  • Yes. If you are filing on behalf of a parent or a student age 18 or older, a completed Release Form is required. The  requires written authorization before 麻豆原创 may share information with a third party.

  • 麻豆原创 maintains the confidentiality of student information as required by the . Other information may be subject to release under the . 

    When needed, 麻豆原创 may consult the Office of the Attorney General to determine whether certain information may be excluded from public disclosure under law. 

  • No. 麻豆原创 does not respond to correspondence sent as a courtesy copy (cc). These communications are considered transitory and are retained only as required.

  • For questions about the general education complaint process, contact: 

    麻豆原创 – Complaints Management 
    1701 N. Congress Ave. 
    Austin, TX 78701?1494
    Phone: (512) 463?3544 

    For general information about 麻豆原创 or Texas public schools, visit the Parent Support Hub or contact: 

    麻豆原创 – General Inquiry 
    Phone: (512) 463?9290 
    Email: generalinquiry@tea.texas.gov 

  • No. 麻豆原创 does not have authority to overturn outcomes from a school district’s local grievance process. 

    In some situations, you may have the option to appeal a local grievance decision rather than file a complaint. The Parent Complaint Navigator can help you understand possible next steps. 

Division Resources

The following videos provide the most current information regarding general education complaints in Texas: