Representative Joan Ballweg

Senator John Lehman

Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) has introduced a bill - AB 484 - that would give education support professionals - or any school district employee - authority to remove disruptive students. Senator John Lehman (D-Racine) has introduced a companion bill, SB 251.

Current law gives a teacher the authority to remove a pupil from the classroom if the pupil violates a locally developed code of conduct; is dangerous, unruly or disruptive; or exhibits behavior that interferes with the teacher's ability to teach effectively. Ballweg's and Lehman's bills would extend the same authority to any school district employee and also allow a school district employee to remove a pupil from school property or from a school-sponsored activity supervised by that employee.

Under Ballweg's and Lehman's bills, a pupil who is removed from the classroom must be sent to the principal, with a written explanation of the reasons for the removal. A school district employee who removes a student from school property other than a classroom or a school-sponsored activity must provide a written explanation to the principal or the principal's designee as soon as feasible.

A similar bill has been introduced the last two sessions by Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Verona), but failed to become law.

Ballweg's and Lehman's bills carry out the Safe and Healthy Schools provision of WEAC's Legislative Agenda, which argues that education support professionals are increasingly called upon to supervise students. This measure enhances their authority to keep classrooms and schools working safely.

Posted June 14, 2007; Updated August 16, 2007