Few moments hit harder for a parent than getting that phone call from the school district—the one that makes your heart sink. There are few things parents dread more than finding out that their child is in serious trouble. When you get such a call, it's more than just learning your child was breaking rules or behaving poorly—it's knowing that this could signal a turning point in your child's life. And not the kind you'd hope for.
Disciplinary records are an important part of any child's overall academic records. They can affect what colleges take an interest in a student, what jobs might hire that student, and more just as easily as the child's grades. In the Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD), serious behavioral infractions can even lead to placement in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). DAEP placement is an extreme measure that can profoundly impact a student's entire future.
The Lento Law Firm knows the impact that DAEP placement can have, and we are ready to help defend your child's future if they have been targeted for placement into a DAEP. We know that, when it comes to discipline, school districts aren't guaranteed to always get things right. Children and teenagers make mistakes—that's just part of growing up. But an act of poor judgment or naivety shouldn't permanently change a child's future.
If you're dealing with the Spring Branch Independent School District, there's no better choice than the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, thanks to our offices in Houston. We know the schools, administrators, and teachers of Spring Branch ISD, and our team members may even have children or other family members enrolled in the school district. Call us right away at 888-535-3686 or contact us online to learn how we can help protect your child's future.
What is a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program?
A DAEP is an educational setting that is designed to provide behavioral support and instruction for students who have repeatedly or severely violated their school district's code of conduct. It is a specialized facility that separates these students from the rest of the student population. For the Spring Branch Independent School District, the DAEP facility is simply called the District Alternative Education Program.
DAEP schools specialize in providing emotional and behavioral accommodations, with the goal of giving every student a fair and equal educational opportunity… at least on paper. The unfortunate reality is that school districts often use their DAEP facilities as a way to isolate certain students and keep them out of sight, out of mind.
Because of this approach, many DAEP schools are affected by systematic shortcomings. Their teaching staff can be any combination of overextended, inexperienced, ineffective, disinterested, or disgruntled. Their books and other resources—as well as their curriculum—can be outdated and inadequate. As you can imagine, such facilities are poorly suited to providing a proper education.
This means that DAEP students often have a way of shutting down or giving up. They can feel like they've been labeled as undesirable or as troublemakers by the district, and many students will adjust their behavior to live down to such expectations. This means that a student who performed well academically can suddenly see their grades take a nosedive after placement into a DAEP.
We have put together this resource to help you would like to learn more about DAEPs in Texas and the laws and processes around them.
Spring Branch ISD's DAEP School: District Alternative Education Program
Spring Branch ISD is a diverse school district located in the western section of Houston, Texas. It is well known for its commitment to student achievement and innovation, with a goal for each of its graduates to attain technical certification, military training, or a two- or four-year degree. Spring Branch ISD is a high-performing district and has received a number of awards, including being named a finalist for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award.
Spring Branch ISD serves over 33,000 total students, only a tiny fraction of whom attend the DAEP school. However, even though the Spring Branch ISD is well regarded as one of the best school districts in Texas, students who graduate from the DAEP school don't have the same opportunities as those who completed enrollment at the district's other schools. Students who graduate from highly rated schools like Memorial High School, Stratford High School, or Spring Woods High School will have a far easier time getting accepted into colleges and universities than students who attended the DAEP.
Being Placed into Spring Branch ISD's DAEP
Like expulsion, a DAEP placement is considered a last resort. It requires major offenses or repeated violations of the district's code of conduct for a student to be placed into DAEP in the Spring Branch ISD, as in all Texas school districts. Certain offenses, however, mandate DAEP in the state of Texas. These include cannabis or other drug possession, assault, and other felony conduct.
DAEP placement in the SBISD can also be discretionary. For example, the district can opt for DAEP placement for a student who repeatedly violates the Spring Branch ISD Student Code of Conduct, even if no single violation would have warranted placement on its own. Intent can also be used for discretionary DAEP placement—meaning a student who committed a breach of conduct with particularly heinous intentions could be sent to DAEP.
There are certain protocols the district must follow in any case involving DAEP placement, including a conference involving the student and their parents or guardians, as well as any teachers or administrators who are part of the disciplinary placement.
This meeting is intended to provide the student with a chance to share their side of things but also to give the district and the educational staff a platform for explaining their reasoning for taking such extreme disciplinary measures. All of this helps to provide complete transparency to parents, guardians, and other important figures in the student's life and to ensure the student has a complete understanding of the situation.
The meeting also gives the student and their advocates the opportunity to challenge disciplinary measures that they deem inappropriate. Having legal representation in these instances can greatly improve the chance of success.
To make sure your child's voice is heard in this meeting, call the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team today. We know the laws around DAEP placement inside and out. If the district is overstepping its bounds or otherwise abusing its authority, we will be quick to let them know about it. We won't let a power-tripping teacher or administrator put your child's future in jeopardy.
Factors That Must Be Considered in Any DAEP Placement
Texas state laws place requirements around the components that must be considered as part of a DAEP decision. These include:
- Whether the student acted in self-defense
- The student's intent or lack of intent in the incident
- The student's disciplinary history
- Whether the student has a disability that affects their ability to understand the conduct
- If the student is in a protective services conservatorship or foster care
- Whether or not the student is experiencing homelessness
These requirements ensure that a student's circumstances are considered with care and fairness in order to protect students from being unfairly placed into a DAEP. Imagine an honors student who suddenly finds themselves in trouble for defending themselves against a bully—they deserve a chance to explain their case and avoid being treated like a habitual offender. Or think of a child who unknowingly carries a pocket knife to school after using the same backpack on a weekend camping trip. There's no malicious intent, but a strict district could seek stiff penalties for the student “having a weapon.” The state wants school districts to recognize the humanity behind each situation and to prevent life-altering consequences for actions that lack malice or intent.
The Dangers of Zero-Tolerance Policies
Zero-tolerance disciplinary policies were once the standard in school districts nationwide. They aimed to ensure fairness by enforcing strict and inflexible guidelines: if a student violated a rule, they would face punishment. No exceptions, no consideration of context.
While well-intentioned, this one-size-fits-none approach overlooked the unique circumstances surrounding each incident, leading to outcomes that were often unjustly punitive. For example, one Texas third-grader was condemned for violating the school district's anti-junk food policy by eating a single piece of candy and forced to spend an entire week in detention.
To the delight of logical human beings throughout Texas, zero-tolerance policies have since become expressly banned by the state's Education Code. Intent and extenuating circumstances are required to be considered in any school disciplinary process.
Unfortunately, that doesn't stop certain educators and administrators from attempting to enforce zero-tolerance policies under the guise of being “old school.” They might think it's some sort of tough love or hard-knock education, but in actuality, it is a violation of state law.
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is ready to step in any time your child is on the receiving end of a zero-tolerance discipline policy. We will be glad to show offending educators Section 37 of the Texas Education Code and to enlighten them on the legal implications of violating this law against zero-tolerance policies.
What to Do If Your Child Is Involved in a Disciplinary Issue at the Spring Branch Independent School District
If your child is facing DAEP placement or severe disciplinary measures in the Spring Branch ISD, your best bet is to remain active and engaged throughout the entire disciplinary process. Here is a quick checklist of the actions you should take as soon as you learn about any major disciplinary issue affecting your child:
- Contact the school right away. The longer you delay, the harder it will make things for you and your child.
- Get as much information as possible, and write down every detail provided. This goes for your child's explanation of things as well as that of the school.
- If the accusations are severe, contact legal representation like the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team. The earlier you involve them, the more time they will have to formulate a winning strategy on your behalf.
- Have an honest and open discussion with your child. Ask if there are issues with their classes, teachers, administrators, or fellow students. Ask them to write down everything they remember about the incident in question. All of this will provide important contextual evidence about what happened.
- Take photos of any injuries your child received during the incident. If your child was acting in self-defense, these photos provide important context about the severity of the situation.
- Collect any other physical evidence that helps establish context. This could include written notes, emails, or recorded messages.
- Be sure to log any and all contact with school officials during this process, including the date and time, the length of conversations, and what topics were discussed. Save all written or emailed communication regarding the disciplinary process as well. Make copies.
- Refer to your school's code of conduct, as well as the SBISD Code of Conduct, to familiarize yourself with the rules and policies your child is accused of violating.
These steps will give you and your child the best possible chance to secure a fair outcome to any disciplinary measures pursued by the Spring Branch Independent School District.
Don't Face the Possibility of DAEP Placement Alone
Any child can find themselves in trouble from time to time. And while most school disciplinary processes don't have long-lasting impacts on a child, DAEP placement has the potential to completely derail your child's future. Students placed into DAEP can suddenly see their future aspirations crumble as they're no longer candidates for college admissions or desired jobs.
For families, facing such a severe consequence can feel overwhelming and deeply unsettling, leaving you uncertain about what comes next. But the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is here to help.
We are ready to become your advocate and to stand with you throughout any and all school disciplinary proceedings. Our priority is to protect your child's future by ensuring that school boards, administrators, and educators uphold Texas law and treat your child with the fairness and respect they deserve.
Remember, the Lento Law Firm has offices in Houston. If your child has been threatened with DAEP placement in the Spring Branch Independent School District, get in touch with our team right away by calling 888-535-3686 or contacting us online. The sooner we know about your case, the sooner we can start working on your defense.
