Suspension and expulsion aren't the only options a Texas school district may consider when a student is accused of serious rule violations. Per the Texas Education Code, every independent school district in the state must offer a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP).
These programs provide students with an education outside of the normal classroom environment. A DAEP placement ideally allows a student to continue their schooling while addressing disciplinary issues.
However, a DAEP placement isn't always warranted. Being placed in a DAEP has also been shown to have potentially negative impacts on the short-term quality of a student's education and their long-term odds of achieving academic success.
Is your child facing possible DAEP placement at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (aka Cypress-Fairbanks ISD)? If so, a proper defense can play a significant role in their case's outcome.
At the Lento Law Firm, our Student Defense Team is committed to serving the needs of students facing disciplinary action (and their families!) throughout the region. If you need help with a Cypress-Fairbanks ISD case, submit your information via our online contact form or call us at 888-535-3686 for more information today.
Essential Information About Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD offers a fact sheet providing basic information about the district and the families it serves. Essential information to be aware of includes:
- Cypress-Fairbanks ISD currently has 96 campuses, including 59 elementary schools, 20 middle schools, 12 high schools, and five facilities for special programs
- As of the 2024-2025 academic year, student enrollment is approximately 118,057 students
The district's main administration building is located at:
11440 Matzke Road
Cypress, TX 77429
From our Houston office, our Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team is prepared to offer service rooted in a local's understanding of the DAEP process. Our Houston office is located at:
1201 Fannin St, Suite 262
Houston, TX 77002
Contact us sooner rather than later if your child is a student at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD facing DAEP placement. The sooner we can begin working on your child's case, the better we can serve them.
The DAEP at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
One of the provisions of the Texas Education Code states all independent school districts in the Lone Star State must distribute a student code of conduct at the beginning of the academic year. You can also access the current Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Student Code of Conduct online.
Cypress-Fairbanks ISD offers DAEP services at the following locations:
- Special Opportunity School (SOS), (Age 6–Grade 5), Adam Elementary, 11303 Honey Grove Lane, Houston, TX 77065
- Alternative Learning Center-East (ALC-E), (Grades 6-12), 12508 Windfern Road, Houston, TX 77064
- Alternative Learning Center-West (ALC-W), (Grades 6-12), 19350 Rebel Yell, Katy, TX 77449
The DAEP curriculum consists of classes in:
- English
- Language arts
- Math
- Science
- History
- Self-discipline
Along with providing an education in self-discipline, the DAEP potentially serves to address student disciplinary issues through proper counseling and supervision of students.
What About Advanced Courses?
Per the Student Code of Conduct, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD allows students participating in its DAEP to continue enrolling in advanced classes—and earning advanced grade points accordingly. Options for continuing in an advanced course while placed in the DAEP include:
- Enrolling in an online version of the course if the district offers one
- Receiving assignments, tests, and other such advanced course materials from one's home campus, if transportation of said materials to the DAEP location can be arranged
- Completing different assignments (or additional assignments) to fulfill the educational requirements of the course
These are the types of concerns a student may understandably have when facing DAEP placement. Having a lawyer on their side can at least provide a student with the peace of mind that comes from knowing qualified legal professionals are handling their case. At the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, we'll address your child's concerns (and your own) to ensure the process is as painless as it can be.
The DAEP Removal Process at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
If a student is accused of the type of misconduct that may cause the district to consider DAEP placement, their school will typically remove them from class. The DAEP process may then involve these steps:
- Conference: The Campus Behavior Coordinator will schedule a conference regarding the relevant disciplinary issue. This conference should be held no more than three days following a student's removal from class. Both the student and their parent/guardian should attend. The district can move forward with a conference without the student in attendance if, after genuinely attempting to require said attendance, the district has been unsuccessful. During the conference, the campus administrator will provide the student with an oral or written explanation of the accusations they face and the reasons why said accusations are grounds for removal. The student will have an opportunity to respond to the allegations and present their side of the story.
- Considering mitigating factors: The Texas Education Code states that districts considering DAEP cases must account for certain potential mitigating factors before rendering their decisions. The next section of this overview will address what those specific mitigating factors are.
- Placement order: The campus administrator will draft a placement order at the conference if the district elects to proceed with a DAEP placement. The student and their parent/guardian will receive a copy of the placement order. They'll also receive information about having the student evaluated to determine if they require special education services. In addition, the board's designee will file a copy of the placement order with the relevant juvenile court no later than the second business day after the order is made.
Facing this process alone can be overwhelming for a young student. It's also unnecessary. At the Lento Law Firm, our Student Defense Team is prepared to offer representation throughout all steps of the process.
Potential Mitigating Factors in a Texas DAEP Case
Mitigating factors Cypress-Fairbanks ISD must account for when they apply to a DAEP case include whether a student is accused of misconduct:
- Was acting in self-defense
- Has been in trouble before
- Did or didn't intend to break the rules
- Has a disability that may prevent them from understanding what they did was wrong
- Is in foster care
- Is homeless
Presenting these mitigating factors is just one way our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm may assist your child. Our philosophy is that the ideal defense strategy is one that accounts for the full details of an individual case. Thus, the best way to learn how we may defend your child is to contact us to discuss the case with a team member.
Reasons for DAEP Placement at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Student Code of Conduct outlines the types of misconduct that can result in DAEP placement. Using the Texas Education Code as a guide, the district categorizes different forms of misconduct into different tiers depending on their severity.
The levels relevant to a DAEP case are:
- Level III violations: If a student is accused of this type of violation, the district has the option of placing them in a DAEP. Examples of such violations include (but aren't limited to) dating violence, fighting, or other forms of unacceptable physical contact that may cause injury and hazing.
- Level IV violations: The law states that DAEP placement is mandatory when a student has engaged in a Level IV violation. Examples of Level IV violations include (but aren't limited to) making bomb threats or other such terroristic threats, retaliating against school employees, and committing various types of crimes on or near school grounds.
That last sentence is important. In many cases, the way the law categorizes a violation depends on where the violation was committed. This is the type of factor we at the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team may account for when developing a defense strategy for your child's case.
How Long Does a DAEP Placement Last at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD?
The district indicates the typical length of a DAEP placement is 10 to 45 days. This holds true regardless of a student's age or grade level.
During every grading period, if a student's DAEP placement is still active, the Office of Student Services may review their placement in collaboration with the relevant campus principal. Upon reviewing a placement, they may choose to end the placement, continue it, or even extend it in some circumstances.
The principal of the alternative school where a DAEP student attends class during their placement must provide them with a periodic status review. They must do so at maximum intervals of 120 days.
The purpose of this review is to evaluate how much progress a DAEP student has made toward achieving the program's disciplinary goals. If a student is a senior, the review also involves evaluating their progress toward graduation. During a review, a student and their parent/guardian have a chance to make an argument for why they should return to their normal classroom.
In any DAEP case, our goal is to ensure that a DAEP placement doesn't negatively affect a student's education. Sometimes, this means fighting to guard against a DAEP placement entirely.
Sometimes, it means demonstrating why a DAEP placement's term length should be reasonable. At the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, we're prepared to speak up on behalf of your child if it appears the district is imposing an unnecessary term or is otherwise violating your child's rights.
Restrictions on Student Activities During a DAEP Placement at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
Certain restrictions typically apply to students during their DAEP placements. Per the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Student Code of Conduct, a student placed in a DAEP:
- May not be on any Cypress-Fairbanks ISD property aside from the property where they are authorized to take DAEP classes
- Cannot attend or participate in any school-sponsored or school-related activities, including extracurricular and co-curricular activities
- May face more significant disciplinary action if they engage in any other violations of the rules
The specific terms of a DAEP placement may involve additional restrictions or requirements. Understanding these requirements is key to avoiding subsequent disciplinary action.
Knowing what to do (and not do) during a DAEP placement is vital. However, it's also important to know what to do and not to do during a pending case. Our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm will help you and your child better understand how your actions now can affect a case's outcome.
Appealing the Decision of Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in a DAEP Placement Case
There are potential circumstances when a student or their parent/guardian may appeal the district's decision to place them in a DAEP. In most cases, when the district opts for a DAEP placement, the administrator makes a recommendation to the relevant principal or designee.
The decision of the principal or designee is final. Unless unique exceptions apply, in most cases, a student can't appeal a DAEP placement once the principal or designee has decided one is necessary. However, before the administrator makes their recommendation, they should provide a student and their parents with information about filing an appeal.
It's important to review this information promptly and thoroughly. It should indicate how much time a student or their parent/guardian has to appeal a decision. Missing the deadline is essentially the same as waiving the right to an appeal.
This is another task we can provide assistance with. If you wish to appeal a DAEP placement, our Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you file one with persuasive evidence.
Contact the Lento Law Firm for Help With a DAEP Case at Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District
A DAEP placement can involve numerous drawbacks that aren't always obvious to a student facing disciplinary action. Although the district should strive to provide DAEP students with a quality education, the education a DAEP student receives may be lacking in comparison to the education they would receive at a traditional campus. Research also shows that DAEP placement may boost one's odds of dropping out of school.
Protect your child's future by hiring professionals with experience handling these types of cases to represent them. That's exactly what you'll find at the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team. Find out more about what we can do for you and your child via our Houston office right now by submitting your information through our online form or calling our offices at 888-535-3686.
