Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that increases various state student discipline policies.

Highlights:

• Establishes the authority of a teacher to exercise control over their classroom and students during the school day (Article 5). 

• Requires students diagnosed, suspected of having, or exposure to any infectious disease be excluded from the school with (Article 5):

• A notice to the proper medical authorities; and 

• The condition that the student can not be readmitted without first complying to all the rules that govern their case or a certificate of health signed by the medical inspector of other proper medical authorities. 

• Authorizes a students removal from a classroom or school bus if they are acting in a manner disruptive to the learning environment by (Article 5):

• Threatening, abusing, or otherwise intimidating another student or school employee; 

• Willfully disobeying a school employee; and 

• Using profound or abusive language at a school employee. 

• Requires the removed student to be placed under the care of the school principal or designee (Article 5). 

• Authorizes the re-admittance of removed students once the school principal or designee provides written certification that proves the student can re-enter and explains what disciplinary action, if any, was taken (Article 5). 

• Requires the school principal to provide parents, guardians, or custodians with a written or telephonic notice of any disciplinary actions that they found necessary

• Authorizes the removal of a student from the classroom or school bus until a meeting to discuss the student’s disruptive behavior and come up with a future discipline plan can occur between the principle, teacher, and if possible the student’s parents, custodians, or guardians after the student has already been removed two times in one semester (Article 5). 

• Authorizes the removal of the disruptive student from the teachers classroom if behavior continues after this meeting (Article 5). 

• Requires the teacher files an electronic report into the West Virginia Education Information System within 24 of the student’s removal  (Article 5). 

• Requires the once the teacher determines a student’s behavior is disorderly conduct that student be removed and remain out of the classroom for the rest of the school day and that this removal be counted as an in-school suspension  (Article 5). 

• Requires that once a student has been removed from their classroom three times in one month for disorderly conduct they serve an out of school suspension or they be considered for placement within an alternative learning center if available  (Article 5). 

• Authorizes the switching of classroom for a student whose behavior can be considered a personality clash and may be better suited to learn in another classroom environment (Article 5). 

• Requires the implementation of a tier system policy, with teacher input, by each county board to provide a framework for student behaviors and policies that is clear and concise (Article 5). 

• Requires that the school’s principal support the teacher in regards to discipline if proper cause and documentation is provided (Article 5). 

• Specifies that the teacher is not to be reprimanded for punishing a student if their actions are legal and within the county board’s policies (Article 5).

Full Bill Text