In this episode of The School Collective, we welcome back our favorite Texas special education attorney, Elvin Houston (@school.lawyer), for a timely and engaging conversation on recent legislative updates impacting educators and school psychologists. Elvin breaks down major new Texas laws—like House Bill 1481’s student cell phone ban, Senate Bill 2’s education savings accounts, and House Bill 6’s discipline reforms—and explains how these intersect with federal IDEA protections.

Joined by special guests Brooke Roberts and Amy Shatila, we also touch on personal habits, back-to-school transitions, and some hilarious moments with professional headshots (and tacos!). We wrap things up with a rapid-fire Q&A where Elvin shares his favorite dinosaur, dream meal, and more.

Key Takeaways for School Teams:

• What your district must do before fall regarding cell phone bans and IEP accommodations
• Why Senate Bill 2 could trigger a wave of FIE requests—and how to prepare
• How to stay compliant with federal law when navigating new state discipline policies
• Pro tips on writing defensible prior written notices and evaluation denials

Social Handles:

Christopher Ponce

• Instagram - @theschoolpsychguy
• LinkedIn - Christopher Ponce

Elvin Houston

• Instagram - @School.Lawyer
• TikTok - @School.Lawyer

Music by: J Andrew Collins