Not every school district in Texas is created equal, but they all have one important thing in common: a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP). Texas mandates each individual school district to operate a DAEP, and the school districts making up Pasadena, Texas, are no different. However, despite the supposed good that DAEPs can bring to a misbehaving student and their local campus community, they can certainly harm a student's education career. DAEP placements often feel isolating, stigmatizing, and unfair, with some students facing removal from their home campus for minor offenses.
Unlike general practice lawyers, the Lento Law Firm focuses specifically on student discipline defense. We operate numerous offices across Texas—including a local office in Houston—giving our attorneys a deep understanding of Texas's DAEP system and the risks Pasadena students face. Our Student Defense Team can help you and your student avoid the unique concerns of your school district, whether that's Pasadena, Deer Park, Clear Creek, or La Porte.
DAEP proceedings often move at an accelerated pace, and appeals have limited timeframes. Call the Lento Law Firm today at (888) 535-3686 or contact us online to get started.
Pasadena and the Local DAEP System
Pasadena, Texas, is the second-most populous city in Harris County and one part of the growing Greater Houston metropolitan area. With a population of over 150,000 residents, Pasadena also contains tens of thousands of young children attending schools throughout the city. While many Pasadena students attend a school in the Pasadena Independent School District, other nearby school districts overlap the city, such as:
- Deer Park Independent School District
- Clear Creek Independent School District
- La Porte Independent School District
The city of Pasadena extends far south and east from the downtown core, meaning many Pasadena residents might reside inside one of these nearby districts instead of Pasadena ISD. Plus, some families choose to send their students to a school outside of PISD. This doesn't always cause complications, but DAEP enrollment is one situation that can burden a family.
DAEP is not entirely uniform across Texas. Instead, each independent school district is responsible for developing and managing its own DAEP program in accordance with general state guidelines. This means the specific structure, policies, and experiences of DAEP can vary significantly depending on where a Pasadena student resides and attends school. DAEP schools are typically located centrally within a school district and may be very far away from some families living firmly within the city of Pasadena.
Pasadena contains many fantastic schools throughout its school districts, but students are always at risk of disciplinary action that removes them from their home campus. Although DAEP placement allows for eventual reintegration with a student's home campus, it immediately separates them from their friendly, comfortable school environment and places them in unfamiliar territory.
The Lento Law Firm works throughout Texas and can assist Pasadena families with DAEP concerns through our local Houston office. Each independent school district in Texas is unique, and our Student Defense Team has the experience needed to effectively advocate for your child, no matter what school they attend. Call today at (888) 535-3686 or contact us through our website to begin your student's defense.
Pasadena Independent School District
The Pasadena Independent School District (PISD) serves the majority of students in Pasadena and southern parts of Harris County. With approximately 49,000 students across various grade levels, it is by far the largest district educating children living directly in Pasadena, with programs and opportunities for students of all ages.
PISD's network of schools includes elementary, middle, intermediate, and high schools, such as:
- Pasadena High School
- J. Frank Dobie High School
- Sam Rayburn High School
- Morris Middle School
- Beverly Hills Intermediate
- Gardens Elementary
- South Houston Elementary
Pasadena Independent School District also manages The Summit, a dedicated DAEP campus for alternative education. Not all districts in Texas fund a dedicated DAEP school; instead, they use classrooms or buildings located on another school's campus. The Summit may provide a more well-rounded experience to Pasadena students removed from their home campus, but it also completely removes them from other local schools that offer a sense of familiarity.
Deer Park Independent School District
The Deer Park Independent School District (DPISD) primarily educates students living in Deer Park and southeastern Pasadena. DPISD remains part of the Houston metro area and educates roughly 13,000 students across all its campuses. Some of DPISD's schools include:
- Deer Park High School is divided into the North Campus, South Campus, and Wolters Campus
- Deer Park Junior High
- Deepwater Junior High
- San Jacinto Elementary
- Deer Park Elementary
- Deepwater Elementary
As mentioned, not every school district needs a dedicated DAEP campus, even though they must operate a DAEP program. Deer Park ISD's DAEP program is found at the Deer Park High School North Campus, the primary campus educating high school students in the 9th grade.
Clear Creek Independent School District
The Clear Creek Independent School District (CCISD) educates children in the greater Clear Lake Area and the southernmost part of Pasadena. CCISD is a fairly large district, with roughly 40,000 students and 50 campuses, including:
- Clear Brook High School
- Clear Creek High School
- Clear Falls High School
- Clear View High School
- Brookside Intermediate School
- Creekside Intermediate School
- Space Center Intermediate School
- Bay Elementary School
- G. W. Robinson Elementary School
- Landolt Elementary School
CCISD's DAEP program is based at Clear Path Alternative School in Webster. No matter where their home campus is, students within the district must attend this DAEP school if required to enroll due to disciplinary concerns.
La Porte Independent School District
The La Porte Independent School District (LPISD) serves portions of eastern and southern Pasadena but primarily educates students in La Porte and other communities near the bay. LPISD has twelve campuses, all of which have undergone renovations or reconstruction in the recent past to upgrade them to modern standards. Notable schools within LPISD include:
- La Porte High School
- La Porte Junior High School
- Lomax Junior High School
- Bayshore Elementary School
- Jennie Reid Elementary School
LPISD's DAEP program operates at The Academy of Viola DeWalt High School, commonly known as DeWalt High School. DeWalt High School is far from most of Pasadena, located in La Porte, close to the Fred Hartman Bridge.
Defending Pasadena Students from DAEP Placement
Regardless of where your student attends school within the city of Pasadena, the Lento Law Firm has the experience needed to protect them from DAEP placement and ensure their continued enrollment at their home campus. Pasadena, La Porte, Deer Park, and Clear Creek ISD all maintain similar DAEPs, but the details matter. Our Student Defense Team knows the intricacies of each independent school district and can assist when your student's future is at stake.
How DAEP Works in Texas
Every school district in Texas must operate its own Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs to address student misbehavior and keep campus communities safe from harm. While in-school suspensions allow students to remain on campus in an isolated environment and out-of-school suspensions temporarily remove students from the school campus altogether, DAEP placements work differently. Students in DAEP transfer to a separate campus or program, learning from new teachers and adhering to new rules.
Some DAEP placements are mandatory following specific offenses, such as felony-level misconduct, but others are discretionary. DAEP placement is often the result of decisions made by district and school officials who weigh the severity of the infraction and the student's disciplinary history. Common reasons for DAEP placement include:
- Drug and Alcohol Offenses: Possession, use, or distribution of various controlled substances.
- Weapons: Possession of prohibited dangerous items such as firearms.
- Bullying and Cyberbullying: Bullying and coordinated harassment, in-person and online, of fellow students.
- Violence and Threats: Physical altercations or felony acts of assault against students or school staff.
- Gang-Related Activity: Gang involvement both on and off the school campus.
- Vandalism and Theft: Significant property damage or theft occurring on school grounds.
- Sexual Misconduct: Public lewdness, indecent exposure, or sharing intimate sexual images.
District and school officials also look at certain mitigating factors when making a DAEP decision:
- Did the student intend to break the rules, or were they aware of the impact of their actions?
- Was the student acting in self-defense?
- Does the student have a disability?
- Is the student homeless?
- Is the student in foster care?
- Does the student have a disciplinary history signaling the need for increased disciplinary action?
DAEP is not solely punitive, and many school districts, such as those serving Pasadena, have well-funded, dedicated DAEP campuses to correct student behavior. Disciplined settings where students can focus entirely on their education without distractions may help certain students find greater success compared to their home campus environment. However, the reality is that DAEP placement often leads to worse outcomes for Texas students.
If your student in Pasadena is at risk of entering DAEP, you still have options to fight for their innocence or negotiate lesser disciplinary punishment that does not remove them from their home campus. The Lento Law Firm operates a local Houston office and has direct experience defending students throughout Pasadena. Our Student Defense Team can assist students in the Pasadena, Deer Park, Clear Creek, and La Porte school districts whose future academic placement is in jeopardy.
How The Lento Law Firm Can Help Pasadena Students with DAEP Concerns
Each independent school district in Texas has a unique way of handling disciplinary concerns and mandating DAEP placement for students, but the general process is similar across the state.
First, students accused of misconduct, alongside their parents, meet with school and district officials to discuss the situation and alleged misconduct. Depending on the offense and facts of the case, the district officials will issue discipline, with serious punishment like DAEP reserved for serious acts of misconduct. If required to enter DAEP, students typically enroll in the program before having the opportunity to defend their name through appeals.
This general DAEP process provides many opportunities for the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team to assist Pasadena students and their families. The Lento Law Firm can help by:
- Advocating for Students During Proceedings: Many independent school districts in Texas allow attorneys to represent students and interact with district officials instead of family members. The Lento Law Firm understands how each ISD operates and what options are available in place of DAEP placement. Remember, not all offenses lead to mandatory DAEP placement, so negotiating for reduced disciplinary punishment is an effective way to protect your child's educational future.
- Gathering and Showcasing Evidence: In addition to helping students avoid serious punishment for misconduct, the Lento Law Firm can gather and present evidence to district officials to prove the innocence of your Pasadena student.
- Appealing DAEP Placement: Each district serving Pasadena students has a unique way of handling appeals for DAEP placement, but the timelines are always relatively short. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, with direct experience in nearby ISDs, can immediately begin working on appeals to protect the future of your Pasadena student.
DAEP placement is not something to take lightly. For many students, it takes a toll on their emotional well-being and negatively impacts their academic potential. Regardless of the district, Pasadena students at risk of entering their local DAEP should not suffer due to minor behavioral issues or misunderstandings.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has the knowledge and experience to effectively help families across all parts of Pasadena defend against DAEP placements. With a local office in Houston and extensive experience in Texas school disciplinary cases, our attorneys are well-positioned to fight for your students' rights and limit their disciplinary punishment.
Pasadena is a diverse city, and the school districts of La Porte, Deer Park, Clear Creek, and Pasadena offer students many great schools from pre-K to high school. However, DAEP placement severely limits their potential and ability to choose where they learn and grow. Call the Lento Law Firm today at (888) 535-3686 or fill out our confidential online form to get started on your child's DAEP defense in Pasadena.
