Latest news with #schooldiscipline
CBS News
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Two bills to keep an eye on as the Texas legislative session wraps up
Here's what bills are left to be signed as Texas Legislature wraps up 89th session Here's what bills are left to be signed as Texas Legislature wraps up 89th session Here's what bills are left to be signed as Texas Legislature wraps up 89th session As the final week of the Texas legislative session begins, there are a few education bills that could make it to the finish line. One of those is the public school funding bill, which is most likely to make it to the governor's desk. The public school funding bill, known as House Bill 2, would increase funding for public education to $8.5 billion. That's a $500 million increase compared to the deal earlier this month. Schools will see per-student funding, or basic allotment, increase by $55, which opponents have said isn't enough. Even with the small increase, it would be the first bump to basic allotment since 2019. The Texas House will most likely accept the bill this week, then it will move to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Another bill that could cross the governor's desk is House Bill 6 – school discipline for younger students. This bill details how to discipline students in pre-K through second grade and homeless students when there is a repeated and significant disruption. It would overturn Texas laws that previously protected those students. Senators have softened those guidelines, which gives individual schools more autonomy to discipline students. The latest version allows in-student suspensions for as long as the school sees fit, as long as principals review placements every 10 days. The House must concur before it goes to the governor.
The Independent
14-05-2025
- The Independent
Teacher banned from the classroom after drinking cider in school and walking into door
A teacher who walked into a door after drinking cans of cider in his classroom has been banned from teaching. Jon Downs, 36, a religious studies teacher at Westhoughton High School in Bolton, was prohibited from teaching after he admitted to a professional conduct panel that he had consumed alcohol on school premises. A witness giving evidence to the disciplinary panel for the Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) reported that Mr Downs' behaviour was 'quite out of character' on 3 July 2023. The panel heard 'there had been a smell of alcohol [from Mr Downs] whilst walking across the school yard'. One employee, referred to as Individual A, said that Mr Downs 'questioned the way to her office, despite having been there on multiple occasions'. Another witness claimed Mr Downs then walked straight into the main building door, a 'door he frequently used'. She stated that his behaviour did not appear normal, and as they sat in an office, she could 'smell alcohol coming from him'. The member of staff said she left the room briefly and returned to Mr Downs' classroom where she 'discreetly' searched his wastepaper bin, finding three empty cider cans. She returned to confront the teacher, who allegedly admitted to finishing the cans of cider in his classroom when no students were there. The next day, another staff member found a school-branded plastic bottle with 3cm of cider left at the bottom on the far side Mr Downs' desk. Reviewing photos of the cider cans and Mr Downs' admissions to having consumed alcohol on school premises with pupils in his care, the teaching panel was satisfied that Mr Downs' actions put pupils at risk of potential harm. Marc Cavey, chief executive of the Teaching Regulation Agency, said: 'The panel noted that there was some insight and remorse on the part of Mr Downs and did note that Mr Downs acknowledged his wrongdoing. 'In my judgement, the lack of evidence that Mr Downs has developed full insight into his behaviour means that there is some risk of the repetition of this behaviour and this puts at risk the future wellbeing of pupils.' The panel found Mr Downs guilty of unacceptable professional conduct and he was barred from teaching indefinitely. He may apply for the prohibition order to be set aside in two years' time, the teaching regulatory panel added.
Washington Post
10-05-2025
- Washington Post
Montgomery County schools to toughen penalties for student misbehavior
Montgomery County Public Schools is toughening its penalties for bomb threats, attacks on staff and other misbehavior by students, district officials said. Bomb threats, for example, could soon lead to suspension or expulsion. Previously, the district's student code of conduct said such threats could trigger the lowest level of response or penalty, such as a detention or other teacher-led intervention.
CBS News
08-05-2025
- CBS News
Investigation finds minority students at Colorado school district almost three times more likely to be disciplined for bullying than White students
Bullying can be a problem at any school. But in the Boulder Valley School District, a months-long investigation by CBS Colorado has discovered racial disparities in how schools discipline bullies. The investigation began after some parents of students who attend schools in the district shared concerns. At BVSD, CBS Colorado's investigation found minority students were almost three times more likely to be disciplined for bullying than White students. Parent says child experienced "traumatic" bullying When her daughter started coming home from school crying, Jamilla Richmond became a very vocal parent. "The bullying that she was experiencing was really traumatic. And it wasn't just the children, it was also adults who were participating in that," Richmond said. Richmond said it got so bad that last year she pulled her daughter out of fourth grade at Whittier International Elementary School. "There was an incident in which my daughter was waiting in line for lunch and four kids cornered her up against the wall, and my daughter felt threatened, so she pushed one of the kids to get out of that situation. They sent her to the office by herself, as though she were the aggressor," Richmond said. Richmond's daughter is Black, and she says those four other students were White. "That creates an image of perhaps children, Black children, Latino, Indigenous, looking as though they are the instigators in situations when in actuality they're really just responding to aggression, harassment and discrimination," Richmond said. Richmond and the school were previously involved in a discrimination lawsuit filed by a White family. However, this ended in a settlement with the school paying both Richmond and the other family. Boulder Valley School District responds CBS Colorado brought the state data to district superintendent Dr. Rob Anderson. "Is this something you've been tracking?" Your Reporter Sarah Horbacewicz asked. "We've been tracking this data for years and on a monthly basis our team comes together to look at trends, to decide if there are different practices that we need to be implementing, if there are different supports and resources. The analysis that you shared with me, I didn't see that until this morning," Anderson said. But BVSD still admits who and how they discipline overall is something they're working on. "Do you think your efforts have been successful so far?" Horbacewicz asked Anderson. "I think that we've been successful in a few things," Anderson said. "Over the past five years, we have reduced suspensions of our Hispanic, Latino students by 51%." "I think that we've reduced the amount of discipline. I don't know that the ... disproportionality has improved in the ways we would have hoped," he said. All trends the district says they meet about monthly when discussing all disciplinary reports and assessing their policies. Anderson says that racial disproportionality is also reflected in academic performance. As part of the investigation, CBS News reviewed state data in other Colorado school districts. The data showed that the district has the largest gap between White and minority students compared to similarly sized districts. CBS Colorado asked Anderson for a response to that. "Our data is more accurate, that we've created the systems and the trust within our community where folks will tell us when these things are happening, and they know that we'll follow through," Anderson said. Anderson says their process for reporting bullying includes a form on the school district's website. "I do think that there's continued training that needs to happen for all of us in the school district, not just for kids, but for teachers and for administrators as well," Anderson said. But parents like Richmond are still unsure. "I want to see the district actually do more than use its words," she said. "For ... children to be engaging in bullying, arguing, whatever it is, that's a completely different scenario than adults compounding that and piling on and assuming who's the culprit, who's the victim," Richmond said. Parents consider civil rights legal action Around 50 parents, including many CBS Colorado met with, say they are now considering taking civil rights legal action against the district. Not every incident of name-calling is reported to the state. The incidents in this data are largely those involving suspension or expulsion. Some of that responsibility comes down to the school district to collect and report their data.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Secondary school behaviour declines in Wales, with call for action
'Defiance' from parents over bad school behaviour Just now Share Save Bethan Lewis Education & family correspondent, BBC Wales News Share Save Getty Images Backchat and disrespect from pupils is one of the biggest issues they face in class, according to school staff A national campaign to tackle bad behaviour in schools has been suggested, with some parents showing "defiance" to policies and excusing the actions of their children, according to Estyn. Wales' schools inspectorate said since the pandemic, secondary schools have reported a general decline in behaviour, with the most challenging pupils becoming "increasingly hard to manage". It called for a national campaign to address the issues, with fixed term exclusions of five days or less, rising from 12,774 instances in 2018-19 to 22,945 in 2022-23. The Welsh government said it would ensure "everything possible" was done to address declining behaviour in schools and colleges. Poor behaviours by pupils ranged from talking in class to threats of violence against teachers and classmates, staff told Estyn. Common issues included answering the teacher back or disrespecting staff, refusing to complete work and not going to lessons. It said there were concerns about poor behaviour in corridors, mobile phone misuse, vaping and increased anxiety amongst pupils. School staff told Estyn that parents sometimes challenged the approach to behaviour and many described a few parents as "unsupportive, sometimes undermining staff by excusing poor behaviour". "A very few parents displayed aggressive behaviour towards leaders and staff when presented with concerns about their child's behaviour," the report said. Estyn urged the Welsh government to update national behaviour management guidelines because "there is no relevant, practical and current guidance to support schools, pupils or their families in dealing with behaviour and promoting positive behaviours". It said the Welsh government should "develop a national campaign with local authorities to promote and explain the importance of good behaviour with parents, carers and pupils". A spokesperson for the government said it welcomed Estyn's report which highlighted the issues faced by schools and what could be done to address them. "Making sure learners and staff feel safe and supported in our educational settings is essential," they said. "We will be discussing these points further at our behaviour summit later this month, where we will also reflect on today's roundtable on violence and safety in schools and colleges." Getty Images Poor behaviours by pupils ranged from talking in class to threats of violence against teachers and classmates Data shows exclusions are on the increase, with a particular jump in fixed-term exclusions of five days or less - up from 12,774 instances in 2018-19 to 22,945 in 2022-23. The rate of fixed-term exclusions was almost three and a half times higher for pupils eligible for free school meals compared to their classmates, the report said. Pupils with additional learning needs (ALN) also had significantly higher rates of exclusion. "These exclusion rates are a considerable concern and give us some indication of the increasing number of pupils demonstrating extremely challenging and complex behaviour," the report, focused on promoting positive behaviour in secondary schools, said. No data on poor behaviour
