Duty Free Lunch

Classroom teachers or full-time librarians are entitled to at least a 30-minute lunch period free from all duties and responsibilities connected with the instruction and supervision of students.

• The district may not require the teacher to have their lunch in the cafeteria or even on school property. 

Exceptions to the duty-free lunch rules:

A school district may require a classroom teacher or librarian entitled to a duty fee lunch to supervise students during lunch not more than one day per week:

• Because of a personnel shortage;
• Extreme economic conditions; or
• An unavoidable or unforeseen circumstance.

Tex. Educ. Code 21.405

19 Tex. Admin. Code 153.1001

Planning and Preparation 

Each classroom teacher is entitled to at least 450 minutes within each 2-week period for instructional preparation, including parent-teacher conferences, evaluating students’ work, and planning.

TexEduc. Code 21.404

Textbooks

The board of trustees of a school district may not require an employee of the district to pay for a textbook or instructional technology that is stolen, misplaced, or not returned by a student.

Texas  Education Code: 31.104