Texas is on track to set a new record for teachers having inappropriate relationships with students.

Statistics released by the Texas Education Agency have revealed it launched 162 investigations of reported inappropriate teacher-student relationships in just nine months, between September 1 and May 31.

The figures mark the fifth year of growth in the state, with 188 investigations in the last fiscal year.

This comes after an eight grade teacher admitted she got pregnant by a 13-year-old pupil - sending shockwaves around the world.

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Texas lawmakers have blamed social media for the rise in such relationships (pictured, eight grade teacher Alexandria Vera at Harris County's 209th State District Court)

Brianne Altice, 37, of Salt Lake City: She is serving between two and 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of forcible sexual abuse

At a hearing in Houston last week, a judge ordered Alexandria Vera to stay away from minors after she admitted she got pregnant after sex with her 13-year-old student.

Texas lawmakers could now be set to confront the issue at next year's legislative session - and have blamed social media for the rise in such relationships.

Referring to the shocking new figures in Texas, Kathy Tortoreo, director of crisis services at Family Support Services in Amarillo, told Globe-News: 'In the past, you might not have had students choosing to interact socially with a teacher.

'Now they'll friend them on Facebook or they'll reach out to them on Snapchat.

'The adult is supposed to understand the boundary, and the adult is supposed to uphold the boundary.'

On Friday, eighth grade teacher Alexandria Vera, 24, was formally read the charges against her at an arraignment hearing in Houston, Texas, but did not enter a plea.

Vera has admitted she got pregnant after sex with her 13-year-old student.

Judge Michael T McSpadden told Vera she was to have no contact with the victim or anyone under the age of 17.

He also ordered Vera - who is out on $100,000 bail - to wear a GPS monitor and to stay away from the school.

A judge ordered Alexandria Vera (pictured) to stay away from minors after she admitted she got pregnant after sex with her 13-year-old student

The former middle school teacher was also banned from accessing the internet and put on a curfew to remain in her home between 8pm and 7am each day.

The court heard Vera was fired from her job at Stovall Middle School after the allegations emerged.

Vera turned herself in to police on Wednesday after a warrant was issued for her arrest on charges of continuous sexual abuse of a child. She was released hours later after she posted a $100,000 bond.

The probable cause document outlining the case against her states how school principal Elsa Wright got a tip that Vera was having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

She then questioned the defendant who 'admitted to having a sexual relationship since September 2015 with a known student', according to the document.

The student, who can't be named, was in her eighth grade English class and was 13 years old.

A police officer met with Vera to discuss the case and she told them she fell pregnant with the eighth grader's child in January after they had continuous sex.

Christina Green, director of the Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas, testified before the House panel on the importance of training school staff to spot abuse.