Charter Employee Fired for Contacting CPS Loses Final Appeal

The Texas Supreme Court (TSC) today (Sept. 25, 2026) refused to disturb a lower appeallate court’s conclusion that charter schools can fire employees in retaliation for reporting child abuse/neglect — but only if the employee lacks SBEC certification (or another state-issued professional license).

The case that the TSC let stand — with one justice issuing a concurring opinion — concerned a lawsuit that former Houston Classical Charter School director of operations Kimberley Richards filed against the charter.