Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on dangerous Tik Tok challenges

Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on dangerous Tik Tok challenges

Calling on Senate and House leaders to study the issue and help implement solutions to protect students and educators

January 6, 2022

“We have shared an on-going and growing student safety issue with leaders in the Texas Senate and House. Over the last several months, school districts and charter schools have been experiencing unusual social media threats that have become increasingly harmful to students, parents, teachers, and school property. TikTok, a social media video sharing network, has allowed the distribution of various “video challenges,” including dangerous ones that have resulted in vandalism, harassment, student walkouts, and threats of violence and school shootings.

“Threats and disruptive social media challenges like these have caused additional stress for students, staff, and parents; increased student absences; and have disrupted the important work of teaching and learning. This is all at a time when students can ill-afford to have any further disruptions to their learning. In addition, these threats have forced Police Departments across our state to devote resources to investigating these actions.

“DCA members believe this activity must end immediately. And for long term solutions, DCA encourages our leaders in both the Senate and the House to commit to studying this issue during the interim. We have requested the relevant committees to investigate and learn more about the harmful impact TikTok challenges have had on the academic and social-emotional learning environment in our public schools and what solutions we can implement. We believe schools should be safe environments for all students and action must be taken to address these harmful social media trends.”

As a collaborative organization of district and charter leaders, Texas District Charter Alliance members stand together ready and available to answer any questions or concerns. DCA represents 30 organizations; Academica, Aldine ISD, AUSL, Beaumont ISD, Brooks County ISD, Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Freer ISD, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, Green Dot Public Schools, KIPP Texas, IDEA Public Schools, Learn4Life, FW Leadership Academy Network, Longview ISD, Midland ISD, Premont ISD, Relay Lab Schools, ResponsiveEd, Rural Schools Innovation Zone, San Antonio ISD, School Innovation Collaborative, Spring Branch ISD, Third Future Schools, Transformation Waco, Uplift Education, and YES Prep Public Schools.