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Committee hears months of testimony on broad K–12 discipline bill; no action taken
Summary
Lawmakers heard hours of testimony on a consolidated K–12 discipline bill (26LSO0088) that would prescribe district disciplinary policies, expand who may enforce rules and require statewide reporting. Witnesses raised operational, privacy, resource and due‑process concerns; committee recessed for lunch and did not move the bill.
The Education Committee spent the second half of its meeting hearing extensive testimony and asking detailed questions about a consolidated school discipline bill, 26LSO0088. LSO presented the draft as a consolidation of prior committee work and Department of Education suggested amendments; the measure would require districts to adopt specific discipline policies, authorize specified enforcement mechanisms (including removal of students from classrooms), require teacher professional development and planning time, and create a reporting pipeline from districts to the Department of Education and to the committee.
LSO attorney Tanya Heitrich walked members through the draft and highlighted several structural points: (1) the bill amends statutory language governing disciplinary measures (referred to in the presentation as "21 4 3 0 8"); (2) it enumerates enforcement options including classroom removal, referral, suspension and expulsion, and possible exclusion from co‑curricular activities; (3) it prescribes reporting requirements to WDE and requires WDE to report back to the committee; (4) it includes a compliance deadline (08/01/2026) and repeals…
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