The Conroe Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously this week to approve a series of policy changes tightening classroom standards, expanding parental rights, and setting clearer boundaries on controversial instruction.
One of the most notable changes allows parents significantly more time to review upcoming lessons on human sexuality. While state law requires a minimum 14-day notice, Conroe ISD extended that to 30 days, ensuring parents receive detailed information on lesson plans, objectives, and outside materials well before the beginning of instruction.
The change is meant to give families greater flexibility and time to decide what is appropriate for their children.
The policy also addresses “gender identity” and pronoun use. It states that the district “shall prohibit employees from assisting a student with social transitioning,” defining that as providing information or support related to changing names, pronouns, or gender expression. Likewise, staff are prohibited from using or encouraging the use of pronouns that do not align with a person’s biological sex as listed on an official birth certificate or government record.
The policy also prohibits instruction or materials described as “unpatriotic or anti-American.” District legal counsel Kara Belew noted during the meeting that the terms aren’t defined in state law and would be interpreted and applied by the superintendent.
Other changes set limits on classroom activism and divisive instruction. Teachers may not promote or assign credit for political advocacy, use class time to endorse social movements, teach that one race or sex is inherently superior, or that America’s founding principles are defined by oppression. Instruction must remain age-appropriate, fact-based, and balanced when discussing controversial issues.
The district also adopted restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that give preferential treatment or require staff to provide DEI statements. It further prohibits developing or implementing equity audits or policies based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Additionally, the board voted to restrict official classroom recognition of holidays and commemorative months to those established by state or federal law that also align with Texas and U.S. history. This standard prevents politically driven celebrations or events that fall outside those parameters from being promoted within district classrooms.
Employees who disregard the prohibitions on social transitioning, pronoun use, political activism, or content restrictions could face disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
The 7-0 vote closes out months of discussion and puts Conroe ISD’s policies clearly in line with state law, while also taking several of those standards further. It spells out what is expected from teachers, what parents are entitled to know, and what will not be left to interpretation.
The full text of the approved policy can be found on pages 145-151 of the district’s meeting agenda here.
