Texas Responds to Uptick in ‘Bad Teachers’
May 7, 2026 – State officials have rolled out a new tool aimed at strengthening safeguards for students by improving how educator misconduct is tracked across agencies in Texas. The Texas Education Agency recently connected to the Search Engine for Multi-Agency Reportable Conduct, or SEMARC, a centralized pre-screening system designed to flag individuals with records of serious misconduct.
The system compiles data from multiple sources, including the state’s Do Not Hire Registry, which lists individuals deemed ineligible to work in public schools. By consolidating records involving allegations such as abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other forms of misconduct, officials say SEMARC is intended to streamline background checks and prevent problematic hires from slipping through gaps between agencies.
The rollout follows earlier adoption by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, which began using the system in live operations this spring. Additional agencies—including the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission—are expected to integrate with the platform in the coming months, further expanding its reach.
State leaders say the goal is to create a more unified safety net, ensuring that information about misconduct follows individuals across different parts of the public sector. The move comes amid increasing attention to accountability and transparency in schools and youth-serving institutions.
In addition to SEMARC, the Texas Education Agency recently launched an interactive Educator Misconduct Reporting Dashboard, offering the public a clearer view of reported incidents. According to the dashboard, more than 10,000 misconduct reports have been filed so far in the 2025–26 school year—an average of about 1,550 per month.
Officials say the combination of expanded data sharing and public reporting tools marks a significant step toward improving oversight and protecting students. While the effectiveness of the system will depend on consistent reporting and coordination, state agencies are signaling a broader push to close loopholes and respond more quickly to potential risks in schools.
