Lawmakers, DOE Officials Discuss School Safety, Discipline and Rising Violence Against Teachers

Lawmakers raised concerns at the Feb. 24 appropriations hearing about teacher safety and the design of alternative education for disruptive youth (AEDY) programs after survey results and news reports of violence in schools.

Representative Nelson summarized several incidents and local reports, noting teachers have been physically assaulted and that many districts report rising in-school violence. He asked whether PDE would support changes to give districts more flexibility in responding to severely disruptive students.

"What you describe is unspeakable," Secretary Rowe said, adding that the department shares lawmakers' concern and is willing to work with the legislature to identify supports or statutory changes. Rowe invited collaboration on potential changes to legislation to provide additional flexibility while protecting students' rights.

Lawmakers also raised the cost of outplacements for districts, which can reach tens of thousands of dollars per student, and asked whether returning to prior in-district interventions could be done safely and effectively. Rowe said PDE would work with lawmakers if they seek legislative changes to enable different local approaches, and pledged to consider supports for teachers and districts to reduce the need for expensive outplacements.

Ending: PDE expressed willingness to work with legislators on policy changes and supports to protect teachers and provide districts flexibility in serving disruptive students, while lawmakers signaled interest in revisiting statutory constraints.