Bill > H7526

This bill establishes new rules for student and teacher classroom safety, allowing teachers to remove students for disruptive behavior or immediate threats, with "disruptive behavior" defined as conduct that significantly hinders a teacher's ability to instruct or other students' learning, and a "chronically disruptive student" being one with at least three documented instances of such behavior in a school term. A "removal" means sending a student to the principal's office or an alternative learning environment, and a "return-to-classroom plan" must be created before the student can go back, involving the teacher and potentially a review committee if the teacher disagrees with the plan. The bill also ensures protections for students with disabilities, as required by federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and mandates that school districts report data on removals and plans annually to the department of elementary and secondary education (RIDE), with this data broken down by race, gender, grade, and disability status. Furthermore, teachers and staff acting in good faith under these provisions are protected from disciplinary action or retaliation.

Education

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