Texas sends elementary students as young as 6 to disciplinary campuses

An investigation into Texas public schools has revealed that thousands of elementary-age children, some as young as 6, are being sent to disciplinary alternative education programs (DAEPs) each year. In the 2022-23 school year, nearly 4,000 elementary-school placements were recorded.

While Texas law prohibits the placement of children aged 5 and younger in these programs, there is no minimum age or grade requirement for children 6 and older. Although DAEPs were originally intended for serious misconduct, such as drug offenses or harassment of staff, school districts maintain broad discretion to assign students for local code violations, including defiance, attendance issues, or minor behavioral infractions.

Education experts and families have raised concerns regarding the impact of these placements on young learners. Critics argue that removing children from regular classrooms can disrupt foundational instruction in reading and math. There are also concerns that behavioral issues stemming from undiagnosed disabilities may be treated as misconduct rather than being addressed through special education evaluations and support.