CL
Buildings, Grounds, and Equipment Management
This policy governs the use of multiple-occupancy private spaces such as restrooms, locker rooms, and shower facilities in Conroe ISD, requiring that access to these spaces be assigned based on…
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Local Changes (2)
2026-02-17Adopted · Meeting notes
This is a brand-new local policy (Version 1, Update 1) for Conroe ISD that establishes rules governing Multiple-Occupancy Private Spaces (restrooms, locker rooms, showers, etc.), requiring their assignment by biological sex, prohibiting cross-sex use, defining exceptions, and creating a violation-reporting and remediation process — all driven by a change in law.
Added
- Definitions section: 'Multiple-Occupancy Private Space includes, but not limited to, a rest room, locker room, changing facility, shower room, or similar facility designed or designated for simultaneous use by more than one individual and in which an individual may be in a state of undress in the presence of another individual, regardless of whether the facility provides curtains or partial walls for privacy.'
- Multiple-Occupancy Private Spaces section heading (entire section is new)
- Each Multiple-Occupancy Private Space within the District shall be assigned for the use of individuals of either the biological sex of male or female. The District shall take steps to provide proper signage and ensure individuals of the opposite sex assigned to a Multiple-Occupancy Private Space do not enter the private space.
- No accommodation may allow an individual to use a Multiple-Occupancy Private Space designated for the exclusive use of individuals of the sex opposite to the individual's biological sex.
- Birth certificate language: references to 'an individual's biological sex on the individual's official birth certificate' and 'individual's biological sex' (replacing prior 'student' references — underlined portions indicating new/revised language)
- The District may establish a single-occupancy private space, family restroom, or changing room. Individuals who do not use a Multiple-Occupancy Private Space may instead use a single-occupancy private space, when available.
- An exception to use of a Multiple-Occupancy Private Space shall apply when an individual enters a Multiple-Occupancy Private Space for: 1. Custodial purposes; 2. Maintenance or inspection purposes; 3. Rendering medical or other emergency assistance; 4. Accompanying and providing assistance to an individual who needs assistance in using the facility, including an elderly person or person with a disability; 5. Law-enforcement purposes; 6. Rendering assistance necessary to prevent a serious threat to order or safety; 7. A child nine years of age or younger who enters while accompanied by a caregiver responsible for the child.
- Violations section heading (entire section is new)
- Any violation of this Policy shall be reported in writing to the Superintendent and principal of the campus where the alleged violation occurred, as soon as reasonably possible following the occurrence. The District shall remedy or otherwise cure the violation within three business days.
- The District shall adopt procedures to implement this Policy.
Legal Compliance Summary
AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.
- Biological Sex Designations Required: Texas S.B. 8 (effective December 4, 2025) requires schools to designate restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities by biological sex. This policy puts that state law requirement into effect for Conroe ISD.
- Definition of Covered Spaces: S.B. 8 references bathrooms and changing facilities, but the district's policy also includes shower rooms and similar spaces, and notes that curtains or partial walls do not change how a space is classified. These additions go beyond what the state law specifically lists and reflect local decisions by the district.
- Single-Occupancy Space Option: S.B. 8 allows schools to provide a single-occupancy space, such as a private restroom, as an alternative in special circumstances. Conroe ISD's policy treats this as a standing district option and also includes family restrooms, which are not specifically mentioned in the statute.
- Exceptions to the Designation Rule: S.B. 8 lists five situations where someone of the opposite biological sex may enter a designated space, such as for emergencies, maintenance, or assisting a young child. The district's policy includes those five situations and adds a sixth — responding to a serious threat to order or safety — which is not listed in the statute and reflects a local policy choice.
- Reporting and Remediation Process: The policy sets up a process for reporting violations to the superintendent and principal, with a three-business-day window to address the issue. This reporting and remediation structure is not required by S.B. 8 or any other identified statute and was designed locally by the district.
- Implementing Procedures Directive: The policy directs the district to adopt separate written procedures to carry out these rules. No provision of S.B. 8 specifically requires this step; it is a local governance decision made under the district's general authority under Texas Education Code §11.151.
Legal Compliance DetailsMixed
AI-generated assessment. Verify citations independently before relying on this analysis.
Definition of 'Multiple-Occupancy Private Space' Mixed
Statutory basis: Texas Health and Safety Code §769.051 as enacted by S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified. S.B. 8 became effective December 4, 2025 and contains an internal anti-injunction provision. No external court injunction blocking enforcement has been identified as of April 9, 2026.
Local additions: The statute references only 'bathroom or changing facility.' The district's definition expands coverage to 'shower room, or similar facility' and adds the clarification 'regardless of whether the facility provides curtains or partial walls for privacy.' These expansions beyond the statutory enumeration are Locally Discretionary. The core concept covering multiple-occupancy bathrooms and changing facilities is Required by Law.
Biological sex assignment and signage requirement for Multiple-Occupancy Private Spaces Required by Law
Statutory basis: Texas Health and Safety Code §769.051 as enacted by S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified as of April 9, 2026.
Local additions: The policy adds a specific signage requirement ('take steps to provide proper signage') and a directive to prevent individuals of the opposite sex from entering. These implementation mechanics are locally chosen but flow directly from the statutory mandate. The signage specification is a locally discretionary implementation detail layered onto the legally required designation mandate.
Prohibition on cross-sex accommodations for Multiple-Occupancy Private Spaces Required by Law
Statutory basis: Texas Health and Safety Code §769.051 as enacted by S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified as of April 9, 2026.
Local additions: None. The policy language ('No accommodation may allow an individual to use a Multiple-Occupancy Private Space designated for the exclusive use of individuals of the sex opposite to the individual's biological sex') is a direct and faithful restatement of the statutory mandate.
Definition of 'biological sex' by reference to official birth certificate Required by Law
Statutory basis: Texas Health and Safety Code §769.001 as enacted by S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified as of April 9, 2026.
Local additions: None. The policy's reference to 'an individual's biological sex on the individual's official birth certificate' directly tracks the statutory definition.
Permission to establish single-occupancy private spaces as an alternative Permitted by Law
Statutory basis: Texas Health and Safety Code §769.052 as enacted by S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified as of April 9, 2026.
Local additions: The statute authorizes this accommodation only 'on request due to special circumstances.' The policy frames it as a standing district option and adds 'family restroom' as a facility type not enumerated in the statute. These local design choices are Locally Discretionary in execution while the underlying authorization is Permitted by Law.
Enumerated exceptions to the biological sex designation rule Mixed
Statutory basis: Texas Health and Safety Code §769.053 as enacted by S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified as of April 9, 2026.
Local additions: Policy exceptions 1–5 (custodial/maintenance/inspection; medical/emergency assistance; assistance to elderly or disabled; law enforcement; child nine and under with caregiver) are directly grounded in §769.053 and are Permitted by Law. Policy exception 6 ('Rendering assistance necessary to prevent a serious threat to order or safety') has no supporting verbatim quote in the statute analysis and does not appear in the §769.053 enumeration; per the Grounding Rule it is Locally Discretionary. The element is Mixed because five exceptions are statutorily grounded and one is locally added.
Violation-reporting and three-business-day remediation requirement Locally Discretionary
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified.
Local additions: The statute analysis contains no requirement or express permission for a specific written reporting process to the Superintendent and principal or a three-business-day cure window at the board-policy level. This is an entirely locally designed internal compliance infrastructure.
Requirement that the District adopt implementing procedures Locally Discretionary
Statutory basis: Texas Education Code §11.151 (general board governance authority)
Verified via: verbatim statute text
Litigation: None identified.
Local additions: No provision of S.B. 8 (89th Leg., 2nd C.S.) expressly requires a district to adopt separate written implementing procedures for this policy. TEC §11.151 provides only general governance authority and does not constitute a specific statutory mandate to create implementing procedures. This directive is a locally discretionary exercise of board governance power.
2026-01-20Reading · Meeting notes
This is an entirely new local policy (CL) for Conroe ISD establishing rules for the use of bathrooms and changing facilities based on biological sex, procedures for temporarily repurposing locker rooms as instructional classrooms, and a violation reporting and remedy process. All text is new (red underlined), as this appears to be a first-version policy with no prior language to remove.
Added
- Use Of Bathrooms And Changing Facilities: Each multiple-occupancy rest room, locker room, changing facility, and shower room within the District shall be assigned for the use of individuals of one sex. The District shall take steps to provide proper signage and ensure individuals of the opposite sex assigned to a multiple-occupancy rest room, locker room, changing facility, or shower room due not enter the private space.
- The District will formulate, interpret, and apply its rules concerning the use of rest rooms, locker rooms, changing facilities, shower room, and participation in all extracurricular activities, including sports competition in a manner consistent with the biological sex of each student.
- For purposes of this policy, a statement of a student's biological sex on the student's official birth certificate is considered to have correctly stated the student's biological sex only if the statement was: 1. Entered at or near the time of the student's birth; or 2. Modified to correct any type of scrivener or clerical error in the student's biological sex.
- An individual who elects not to use a multiple-occupancy space assigned to their sex may instead use a single-occupancy private space, subject to availability.
- An exception to this rule shall apply when an individual enters a multiple-occupancy private space designated exclusively for individuals of the opposite sex for: 1. Custodial duties; 2. Maintenance or inspection purposes; 3. The provision of medical or other emergency assistance; 4. Accompanying and assisting an individual who requires aid in using the facility; 5. The performance of a law-enforcement function; or 6. Providing assistance necessary to prevent a serious threat to order or safety.
- This exception shall also apply to a child nine years of age or younger who enters such a space while accompanied by a caregiver responsible for the child.
- Use of Locker Rooms as Instructional Classrooms: When a locker room is required to be temporarily repurposed as a classroom for instructional purposes, written procedures for such use shall be developed and approved by the campus principal. At a minimum, these procedures shall include the following components: 1. A designated staff member or student leader of the same sex as the assigned sex of the locker room shall conduct a clearing process to ensure the space is fully vacated for instructional use. This process shall confirm that no individuals are showering, partially dressed, or otherwise not prepared for the space to transition into a classroom; 2. Interior and exterior signage shall be changed to clearly indicate that the space has transitioned to a classroom for instructional purposes and that the clearing process has been completed; 3. Staff members of the opposite sex entering the area shall carry a visible cue or identifier indicating that the space is in instructional use; 4. Staff members of the opposite sex shall always knock and verbally announce their entry prior to entering the space; 5. The established procedures shall be provided to all visiting teams, organizations, and groups that may utilize the facility; and 6. All procedures shall be communicated to staff and parents and shall be redistributed at the beginning of each school year.
- A locker room repurposed for instructional use shall not be used for individual meetings with students under any circumstances. Such spaces may be used only for meetings involving an entire team or comparable group.
- Violations: Any violation of this policy shall be reported in writing to the principal of the campus where the alleged violation occurred, as soon as reasonably possible following the occurrence. Upon receipt of the report, that principal shall immediately forward the information to the superintendent. The District shall remedy or otherwise cure the violation within three business days.