Public Hearing on Two New Bills
On Thursday, November 6th, the Assembly Education Committee is having a Public Hearing on two bills: AB 613 and AB 614. Disability Rights Wisconsin is concerned that students with disabilities would lose out on even more education than they already do. Meanwhile, schools would get no new resources to handle the new processes the bill would require.
This legislation would let teachers decide which students they keep in class. Disability Rights Wisconsin urges opposition to AB 613 and AB 614 in advance of public hearing on Thursday.
About the Bills
AB 613
AB 613 would require the school to notify all parents of every student in the class each time a student is removed from the class and say how the removed student diminished the quality or quantity of instructional time provided to the class. Although students wouldn’t be named in the notifications, it would likely create community-wide privacy problems for students with disabilities.
AB 614
AB 614 would:
- make it easier for teachers to take students out of classrooms if the teacher says the student’s behavior is disruptive, including being “boisterous” or “unreasonably loud”.
- add time consuming paperwork requirements that can delay a student’s return to the classroom.
If a student is removed twice in 30 days, they would need a behavior intervention plan (BIP) before being returned to class. Development of a BIP can be a lengthy process, and the bill does not indicate what would happen for the student between being removed from the classroom and being allowed to return.
Act Now
Contact Your Representatives
If this issue is important to you, please contact your State Senator and State Representative with your thoughts. You can look up your legislators and find their contact information here.
Testifying In-Person
If you would like to testify in-person, Thursday’s hearing will be at the State Capitol in Madison in Room 417 North at 10 a.m.
If you would like to submit written testimony for the hearing, you can send that via email to Bob.Delaporte@legis.wisconsin.gov.