HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 1970

Title:  An act relating to classroom discipline.

Brief Description:  Authorizing permanent expulsion for disruptive students.

Sponsors:  Representatives Bush, Mulliken, Carrell, Johnson, Smith, Thompson, L. Thomas, Mielke, Huff, Lambert, Koster, Backlund, Talcott, Buck, D. Schmidt and Sullivan.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 24, 1997.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Pat Shelledy  (786-7149).

Background:  Current state law allows a teacher to exclude a student from his or her classroom for the balance of the school day or until the principal and teacher have conferred, whichever occurs first. 

Rules adopted by the State Board of Education specify the process that must be used by school districts prior to suspending and expelling students.  The process includes providing notice, conducting a conferences with parents, providing the opportunity for a hearing, and actions required for appeals.  A separate process is provided for emergency expulsions.  Students who are expelled may ask to be readmitted at any time, and may also attend school in another school district.

Summary of Bill:  A student who engages in consistent disruptive behavior may be permanently expelled by:

- a teacher from his or her classroom,

- a school principal from the school, and

- a superintendent from the district.

Permanent expulsion may be imposed for consistent disobedience or disruptive behavior by a student that substantially interferes with the educational process or the ability of a teacher, principal, or superintendent to maintain discipline or provide a quality learning environment.

Before permanent expulsion, a parent of the student is required to meet with the school official considering expelling the student and be given the opportunity to sign a written understanding that the parent and the student will work with school officials to eliminate the disruptive behavior.

If a teacher removes a student from a class, school districts must make every effort to minimize the time that a teacher is away from class to confer with parents and administrators.

A summary of the act is to be posted in each public school classroom by November 1, 1997.

If a student who is excluded from a classroom is to be readmitted to a classroom before the end of the day, a parent or guardian must also be involved in the conference with the teacher and principal.

Fiscal Note:  Requested on February 19, 1997.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.