SB157 Summary

• Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, teachers may exclude students from the classroom for disorderly conduct, obstruction of learning, threats or intimidation toward staff or students, willful disobedience, or abusive language.

• Excluded students are placed under principal control and may only return after written principal certification; if a student is excluded twice in one semester after exhausting other discipline methods, a principal-teacher-parent conference is required before readmission.

• A student excluded three times in a 30-day period in grades 6-12 shall receive in-school or out-of-school suspension or may be recommended for alternative school placement.

• Education employees are granted immunity from civil and criminal liability for actions addressing student behavior that lead to exclusion, except for excessive force, willful misconduct, or constitutional violations; the Educators' Liability Trust Fund may reimburse legal expenses for employees charged with civil or criminal actions.

• Local boards of education must adopt appeal processes allowing teachers to challenge principal decisions on classroom exclusions and must collect disciplinary data to submit to the State Department of Education for annual legislative reporting; the State Board must adopt a model policy by 2024-2025.