ESP Role in School Safety & Discipline

Background
A successful classroom is orderly and safe. Disruptive students make teaching and learning difficult for others in the class and may compromise student safety. To help maintain student discipline and safety, those with delegated supervisory authority over students should have the ability to remove disruptive students from the classroom.

Legislative History

Current state 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 teachers' ability to teach effectively. Education Support Professionals have no comparable ability to keep classrooms and schools working for kids.

WEAC Position

The Wisconsin Education Association Council supports adding Education Support Professionals to the school discipline law so they can maintain discipline and safety as part of the overall educational experience for student.

Talking Points

. Education Support Professionals are increasingly delegated supervisory responsibility for students in and outside the classroom.

. Public school support staff need the same tools as teachers to enforce the rules and maintain a productive learning environment.

. Education Support Professionals deserve the respect, support and authority to make responsible decisions that keep schools safe and orderly.

. Empowering Education Support Professionals sends a message to students that teachers, administrators and support staff are working as a team to keep public schools orderly places of learning.

Additional Information

Contact Deb Sybell, WEAC Legislative Program Coordinator, at 800-362-8034 ext. 227 or by e-mail at sybelld@weac.org with any reactions, comments or questions.

Posted May 4, 2006