Public schools; student discipline. (SB170)
Introduced By
Sen. Bill Stanley (R-Moneta) with support from co-patron Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton)
Progress
✓ |
Introduced |
✓ |
Passed Committee |
✓ |
Passed House |
✓ |
Passed Senate |
✓ |
Signed by Governor |
☐ |
Became Law |
Description
Public schools; student discipline. Prohibits, except for drug offenses, firearm offenses, and certain criminal acts, students in preschool through grade three from being suspended for more than three school days or expelled from attendance at school unless (i) the offense involves physical harm or credible threat of physical harm to others or (ii) the local school board or the division superintendent or his designee finds that aggravating circumstances exist, as defined by the Department of Education. Read the Bill »
Outcome
History
Date | Action |
---|---|
12/28/2017 | Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18100258D |
12/28/2017 | Referred to Committee on Education and Health |
01/12/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB170) |
02/01/2018 | Assigned Education sub: Public Education |
02/08/2018 | Reported from Education and Health with substitute (11-Y 4-N) (see vote tally) |
02/08/2018 | Committee substitute printed 18106727D-S1 |
02/09/2018 | Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally) |
02/09/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB170S1) |
02/12/2018 | Read second time |
02/12/2018 | Reading of substitute waived |
02/12/2018 | Committee substitute agreed to 18106727D-S1 |
02/12/2018 | Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute SB170S1 |
02/13/2018 | Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 6-N) (see vote tally) |
02/19/2018 | Placed on Calendar |
02/19/2018 | Read first time |
02/19/2018 | Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice |
02/19/2018 | Referred from Courts of Justice |
02/19/2018 | Referred to Committee on Education |
02/26/2018 | Assigned Education sub: Subcommittee #1 |
02/26/2018 | Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N) |
02/28/2018 | Reported from Education (20-Y 2-N) (see vote tally) |
03/02/2018 | Read second time |
03/05/2018 | Passed by for the day |
03/06/2018 | Read third time |
03/06/2018 | Passed House (85-Y 11-N) |
03/06/2018 | VOTE: PASSAGE (85-Y 11-N) (see vote tally) |
03/08/2018 | Enrolled |
03/08/2018 | Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB170ER) |
03/08/2018 | Signed by Speaker |
03/09/2018 | Impact statement from DPB (SB170ER) |
03/10/2018 | Signed by President |
03/16/2018 | Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 16, 2018 |
03/16/2018 | G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018 |
03/30/2018 | G Approved by Governor-Chapter 585 (effective 7/1/18) |
03/30/2018 | G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0585) |
Video
This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 26 seconds.
Comments
This is a bill that is appropriate from a developmental standpoint. To suspend or expel such young children is counterproductive. Oftentimes children who are not following expectations of behavior in school have disabilities. A problem solving approach should be taken. There are plenty of in school alternatives. Also, isolating a child not solve any problems and can make the situation worse, especially when a child wants to avoid school.
The ACLU of VA strongly supports this bill, and other measures, that seeks to address the overwhelming problem VA has when it comes to school discipline. VA schools leads the nation in suspensions and referrals to law enforcement - with well over 70,000 school-aged children being suspended in the previous school year. Statistically, these suspensions disproportionately affect minority students and students with disabilities. This bill is a start in the right direction by limiting out of school suspension for young students. The bill still allows for exceptions in extreme instances. Young students in trouble need more help, not suspensions. This bill is the Senate version of HB 296.