HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 2539

Title: An act relating to disruptive students.

Brief Description: Revising provisions for removal of disruptive students from individual classrooms.

Sponsors: Representatives McDonald, Bush, Woods, Thomas, Radcliff, Huff, Campbell, Schoesler, Conway and Dunn

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 2, 2000.

Bill Analysis Prepared by: Charlie Gavigan (786-7340)

Background:  There are a number of statutory provisions in current law related to making schools safer.  These include making information more readily available to schools regarding students who have committed violent offenses, providing authority to expel students involved in gang activity or who bring firearms to school.  School boards are required to adopt and make available written rules regarding pupil conduct, discipline, and rights.   School boards must have rules to restore class discipline.

Any student that creates a disruption in class may be excluded by the teacher from any class of that teacher for the rest of the day and up to two additional days, or until the teacher an principal confer, whichever is earlier.  Except for emergencies, the teacher must attempt alternative forms of corrective action before removing the student.

   Summary of Bill:  If the teacher who has excluded a student from his or her class requests a conference with the principal and the student=s parent or guardian, the student cannot return to that teacher=s class until after the school has complied with the teacher=s request for a conference to explore appropriate action to take to provide the best learning environment for the student and the rest of the class.  The teacher may also require that a corrective action plan be agreed to.  Procedures developed by the school board for administering discipline must include the option to place disruptive students in alternative learning environments for the benefit of the student and the rest of the class.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after the end of the session in which the bill passes.