Senate Bill 611 aims to enhance teacher authority in managing classroom behavior and improve parental notification regarding disruptive incidents in schools. The bill explicitly grants teachers the authority to maintain order, establish classroom rules, call for emergency assistance, and take immediate action against dangerous or disruptive behavior. It modifies the conditions under which a teacher can remove a pupil from class, allowing removal for a broader range of disruptive behaviors, including participation in violent incidents and repeated non-compliance with classroom rules. The bill also mandates that school principals must follow the school board's policy on safety measures and the code of conduct when handling removed pupils, and it requires that a behavior intervention plan be in place for pupils removed due to violent incidents.

Additionally, the bill establishes requirements for school boards to notify parents about specific disruptive incidents involving their children and to adopt written policies on reasonable safety measures. Parents are granted the right to take legal action against school boards for non-compliance with notification and policy requirements. The bill also includes protections for teachers against retaliation for enforcing classroom rules and allows teachers to terminate their contracts without penalty if they are victims of violence by pupils. Overall, the legislation seeks to create a safer and more manageable classroom environment while ensuring that parents are informed and involved in their children's education.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 118.164(title), 118.164, 118.164(2)