Week 9 was another productive week full of floor debate. We passed bills addressing many issues facing Iowans from higher education costs to emergency powers. But this week, I want to focus on House File 2538, a bill designed to support teachers facing a rise in classroom behavioral challenges.
I’ve heard from countless teachers who describe a rise in violent and disruptive behavior. Too often, teachers feel their concerns are sidelined or that they lack the administrative support needed to manage difficult cases. HF 2538 aims to help by guaranteeing more collaboration and support for teachers. This legislation has two main goals:
- Ensure that teachers are being heard when dealing with a disruptive student.
- Improve the learning environments for all students, particularly students with disabilities.
House File 2538: Addressing Disruptive Behavior
This bill allows teachers to remove a student from the classroom if they exhibit violent, threatening, or disruptive behavior. The student cannot return to the classroom until a meeting between the teacher and the principal takes place. This is to ensure administrators are listening to the teacher’s perspective before the student is sent back to the classroom.
If it is determined that additional disciplinary measures must be taken, the principal will implement those measures and will communicate with the student’s parents. If an incident happens twice or more in a term, then the principal will assign the student to an in-school or out-of-school suspension and may recommend an alternative learning environment to the superintendent.
Ensuring the Right Environment
Disruptive behavior halts learning for everyone. It puts both the students and the teacher in a very difficult position to succeed. If the same student is being repeatedly disruptive, it begs the question – is this classroom really the best environment for that student? This bill ensures that question is being asked and answered.
The bill requires teachers to be fully briefed on IEP and 504 reports and ensures paraprofessionals are included in IEP meetings. It also empowers teachers to request IEP team meetings to discuss whether a student’s current placement is truly appropriate, among other topics. By ensuring every staff member knows the “game plan,” we can improve the experience for all students—especially those on IEPs.
Confronting Violent Behavior
For too long, school violence has been underreported. By requiring schools to submit risk assessment reports, this bill will bring these issues into the light so they can be addressed appropriately. Also on this topic, this bill establishes that teachers shall be granted a leave of absence with full pay for physical or mental abuse up to five days or more if a doctor’s note requires it.
