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Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill that would expand when schools are allowed to suspend students in second grade and younger.After a bill passed in 2023, schools have only been allowed to suspend Pre-K to 2nd-grade students if they bring a weapon to school or a school vehicle. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dave Murman, said they have received complaints from several teachers since the original bill passed. The bill adds “violent behavior capable of causing physical harm” as an exception for when young students can be suspended.The sponsor of the original bill to ban the suspensions, Terrell McKinney, argues that schools should have been implementing alternative measures of discipline, but were not. Lincoln Sen. George Dungan supports the bill but said he understands the opposition. “We know that any suspension of young students increases the likelihood of the school-to-prison pipeline becoming a factor in their life,” Dungan said on the floor of the legislature on Tuesday morning. “And one of the things that I think everybody in this body agrees on is that we should be doing everything we can to prevent students from getting involved in the juvenile justice system and subsequently the criminal justice system as early as possible.”Dungan added an amendment to the bill that ensures written and verbal notice of the reasons for a suspension, which was adopted. The bill also encourages a meeting with parents or guardians and the school regarding the student’s behavior. Legislative Bill 653 also would make changes to the enrollment option program. The change on young student suspension options was originally introduced in a separate bill.The bill needs one more vote for final approval. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Nebraska lawmakers have advanced a bill that would expand when schools are allowed to suspend students in second grade and younger.
After a bill passed in 2023, schools have only been allowed to suspend Pre-K to 2nd-grade students if they bring a weapon to school or a school vehicle.
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The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Dave Murman, said they have received complaints from several teachers since the original bill passed.
The bill adds “violent behavior capable of causing physical harm” as an exception for when young students can be suspended.
The sponsor of the original bill to ban the suspensions, Terrell McKinney, argues that schools should have been implementing alternative measures of discipline, but were not.
Lincoln Sen. George Dungan supports the bill but said he understands the opposition.
“We know that any suspension of young students increases the likelihood of the school-to-prison pipeline becoming a factor in their life,” Dungan said on the floor of the legislature on Tuesday morning. “And one of the things that I think everybody in this body agrees on is that we should be doing everything we can to prevent students from getting involved in the juvenile justice system and subsequently the criminal justice system as early as possible.”
Dungan added an amendment to the bill that ensures written and verbal notice of the reasons for a suspension, which was adopted. The bill also encourages a meeting with parents or guardians and the school regarding the student’s behavior.
Legislative Bill 653 also would make changes to the enrollment option program. The change on young student suspension options was originally introduced in a separate bill.
The bill needs one more vote for final approval.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google Search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
