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Background:
In December 1999, the National Education Goals Panel recognized the state of Wisconsin as one of the 12 states that have achieved “outstanding performance” in education. The NEGP is a bipartisan organization of federal and state officials.
The NEGP report complimented Wisconsin for improvements in safe, disciplined and alcohol-and drug-free schools. According to the report, only 3 percent of Wisconsin’s students reported that they did not go to school because they felt unsafe.
These statistics have helped to put a little perspective into the debate over school safety and discipline. Despite newspaper headlines to the contrary, researchers are pointing to a decline in school violence over the past decade.
Legislative History:
WEAC led efforts to secure passage of 1997 WI Act 335. This law gives a teacher the authority to remove a pupil from the classroom if the pupil violates a locally developed code of conduct or is dangerous, unruly or disruptive, or exhibits behavior that interferes with the teacher’s ability to teach effectively.
During the 1999 legislative session, WEAC Board Member Maria Wenzel served on a bipartisan legislative study committee on school safety and discipline.
The committee recommended various improvements to the law, ranging from adding safety and discipline data to school performance reports, to requiring that every school have a safety plan. These recommendations were signed into law as part of the 1999-2001 state budget.
In September 1999, the Wisconsin Safe Schools Task Force released a report outlining 23 recommendations to keep Wisconsin schools safe for children.
WEAC Legislative Committee Chair Michael Walsh served as a public member of that task force. The task force was appointed by Attorney General James Doyle and State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Benson.
WEAC Position:
Based on recommendations of the Safe Schools Task Force, WEAC will support bills that:
Talking Points:
For Additional Information:
Contact Bob Burke in the WEAC Government Relations Division at 800-362- 8034 ext. 254 or by e-mail at burkeb@weac.org with any reactions, comments or questions.
Posted June 6, 2000