Clear Creek ISD does not permit corporal punishment in any of its schools, a KPRC 2 investigation published Wednesday, Aug. 19, confirmed. The station reviewed student handbooks and codes of conduct across 20 Houston-area districts.
That means students at Clear Creek, Clear Springs, Clear Falls, Clear Brook and Clear Lake high schools cannot be hit, paddled, spanked or slapped as a disciplinary measure. The district, which enrolled 39,684 students in 2024-25 according to Texas Education Agency data, has no board-adopted policy authorizing the practice.
The investigation came after a Port Arthur ISD sophomore running back, Noah Lopez, alleged a coach paddled him three times during a Saturday football practice at Memorial High School because he missed school and wore the wrong-color pants. His father, Henry Lopez, told KPRC 2 on Aug. 18 that he was never notified. "The way they did it, you know, it was like an assault," he said. "They didn't let me know. I don't even whoop with my son."
Port Arthur ISD confirmed corporal punishment is authorized under its board policy and does not require advance parental consent.
What Texas law allows
Under Texas Education Code § 37.0011, corporal punishment is legal in Texas public schools only if a district's board of trustees votes to adopt a policy permitting it. Without that vote, educators have no authority to use physical force as discipline.
In districts that do allow it, parents who object must submit a separate written, signed statement to the board of trustees each school year. That opt-out can be revoked in writing at any time. The law defines corporal punishment as the deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or any other physical force used as discipline. It excludes pain from normal athletic training and authorized physical restraint of a student who poses a safety threat.
Separately, Texas Education Code § 37.0023 bans "aversive techniques" such as electric shock, impairing a student's breathing or circulation, and other methods intended to cause significant physical or emotional pain.
Where CCISD stands
Because Clear Creek ISD's board has not adopted a corporal punishment policy, the opt-out mechanism does not apply to CCISD families. No written statement is needed.
KPRC 2 found 11 Houston-area districts that prohibit corporal punishment, including Houston ISD, Katy ISD, CyFair ISD, Conroe ISD, Fort Bend ISD and Galveston ISD. At least 11 other districts, including Magnolia ISD, Needville ISD and Cleveland ISD, still permit it in their student handbooks.
The CCISD Board of Trustees, led by president Jonathan Cottrell, has not announced any action on the topic. The board's next general meeting is Monday, Aug. 24, at the Education Support Center, 2425 East Main St. in League City. Meetings stream live on the district's YouTube channel.
