Bill to let teachers temporarily remove disruptive pupils advances in hearing; proponents stress due process safeguards

Senator Russ Temple told the House Education Committee Senate Bill 138 aims to give teachers a clear process to temporarily remove students whose disruptive behavior significantly interferes with classroom instruction and to require school boards to adopt policies defining that authority.

"This bill empowers Montana teachers to maintain a positive and a productive learning environment for the kids, allowing them to temporarily remove the students from the classroom if their behavior interferes with the learning of others," Senator Russ Temple said when he introduced the measure.

Proponents from teacher and education groups described student behavior as a widely reported reason teachers consider leaving the profession. Kim Popham, director…