Amended ESP Bill Ensures Safety

The state Senate on Wednesday (March 12, 2008) passed the School Safety Bill, SB 251, as amended, on a voice vote. This bill empowers teacher's aides and teachers to deal with disruptive and dangerous students in the school setting by sending them to the principal. The bill empowers teacher's aides and teachers to deal with disruptive and dangerous students in the school setting by sending them to the principal. Current law only gives teachers the authority to remove disruptive students and that authority is restricted to the classroom setting. The original bill was amended to address concerns that surfaced in the public hearing on AB 484, the companion bill of SB 251.

According to the Legislative Council memo on SB 251, the Senate Substitute Amendment 1 makes the following changes as compared to the original bill:

1. Limits the additional authorization to remove a pupil from class or school district property to a teacher's aide. Thus, either the teacher or teacher's aide could remove a pupil from class or school district property. Other school employees would not be authorized to take such actions.
2. Provides that a teacher's aide may take action only when he or she is not under the direct supervision of a teacher.
3. Limits the authority to remove a pupil only from class or school property; eliminating the express authority to remove a pupil from a school-sponsored activity.
4. Expressly provides that a teacher or a teacher's aide may send a pupil from any portion of school property other than class to the school principal or his or her designee if the pupil exhibits behavior that is a violation of the code of conduct, or exhibits that is dangerous, unruly, or disruptive. Action may also be based on behavior that interferes with the ability of a teacher.

In testimony submitted to the Senate, WEAC stated:

SB 251 is a common sense bill. The more adults with authority in a school, the safer the school will be. Tight fiscal times have led to fewer support staff members in schools with greater supervisory responsibilities. Teacher's aides need the tools to enforce the rules and maintain a productive learning environment. Empowering teachers and teacher's aides sends a message to students that teachers, administrators and support staff are working as a team to keep schools orderly places of learning.

Successful teamwork among teachers, educational support staff and school administrators enhances school safety and the learning environment.  This school safety legislation will foster a team approach in which caring adults maintain school discipline and safety for the benefit of everyone.

Related links:
ESP bill affords authority, respect [2/22/08]

Giving ESP authority to remove students makes schools safer, Assembly committee told [9/25/07]

Posted March 12, 2008