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1997 SESSION

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HB 1877 Certain disciplinary actions by teachers.

Introduced by: Shirley F. Cooper | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Certain disciplinary actions by teachers. Provides that teachers have the initial authority to remove disruptive students from their classes under certain circumstances. School boards are required to include in the regulations governing student conduct (i) criteria for teachers to remove disruptive students from their classes; (ii) requirements for incident reports of disruptive behavior to school administrators, (iii) procedures for the written notification of the student and his parents regarding any incident report, and the opportunity to meet with the teacher and school administrators; (iv) guidelines for the alternative assignment and instruction of these students and for the duration of removals; and (v) procedures for the return of these students to class, for teacher participation in decisions to return the student to the class from which he was removed, and for the resolution of disagreements between the principal and the teacher regarding such return. The principal must ensure that every removed student, unless the student has been suspended or expelled, continues to receive an education. Any teacher whose evaluation indicated deficiencies in the management of student conduct may be required by the school board to attend professional development activities designed to improve classroom management and disciplinary skills. "Disruptive behavior" is defined as conduct that violates school regulations and interrupts or obstructs the learning environment. Various amendments (i) ensure that the due process procedure for suspensions and expulsions will not be affected by this new authority; (ii) require the Board of Education to revise its code of student conduct guidelines to include criteria for removal of students from classes; and (iii) require local school boards to include these new requirements in their student conduct regulations. This provision is not to be construed to limit or restrict already existing procedures for maintaining order in the classroom. A second enactment clause requires that, in accordance with §§ 22.1-276.2 and 22.1-278, the Board of Education must, by December 31, 1997, revise its guidelines and model student conduct policies to include criteria for the removal of students from class, and all school boards must adopt, by July 1, 1998, revised student conduct policies which include such criteria for the removal of students from class that are consistent with or more stringent than the Board's criteria.


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