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Superintendent and lawmakers propose state review of discipline policies, restraints and restorative practices
Summary
State Superintendent Megan Degenfeller and multiple legislators told the Joint Education Committee that rising classroom behavioral problems, and shifts toward restorative justice practices, merit an interim study to consider teacher authority, student consequences and limits on restraints/seclusion.
State Superintendent Megan Degenfeller told the Joint Education Committee on March 5 that teachers report increasing behavioral issues in classrooms — from profanity and attendance problems to physical altercations — and that Wyoming should examine policy choices that affect teachers’ ability to manage the learning environment.
“We’re seeing a far too great of a shift across the country to what is referred to as restorative justice rather than traditional discipline,” Degenfeller said, and she framed the topic as “empowering teachers” and ensuring students understand that “their actions have consequences.”
Legislators including Senator Branagh, Representatives Kelly, Loeff and others described teachers’ frustration, the effect on classmates who want to learn and the role discipline plays in teacher recruitment and retention. Representative Kelly asked whether the committee should consider “teacher bill of rights” statutes other states have adopted; several members agreed a statute review and best-practices inventory would be useful.
Representative Kelly and others also asked to fold a topic on use of restraints and seclusion for students with severe behavior disabilities into the discipline review. Cassie Craven and other testifiers raised least-restrictive-environment (LRE) questions and said classroom disruptions and LRE implementation can push teachers from the profession.
Committee members discussed combining related interim topics — school discipline, restraints and seclusion, and targeted LRE questions — into a single, multi-session study that could include statutory review, data collection, and examination of training and funding implications. No formal action was taken during the meeting.
Ending: The committee agreed the subject merited further work as an interim topic and suggested combining restraint/seclusion and LRE classroom management issues with the broader discipline study to produce statutory and practice recommendations for the full Legislature.
