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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 134
BY SENATOR BROOME
SCHOOLS. Requests BESE to study and report to the legislature regarding current student
discipline policies and possible changes to these policies.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to examine and2
consider the status of school suspensions and expulsions, as well as plans to revise3
current school discipline policies in response to the "Supportive School Discipline4
Initiative" launched by the United States departments of education and justice.5
WHEREAS, the stated vision of the Louisiana Department of Education is "to ensure6
all students are on track to attain a college degree or succeed in a professional career."; and7
WHEREAS, the state's goal of preparing every student for college and careers cannot8
be attained without providing a safe and secure learning environment that is conducive to9
effective teaching and learning; and10
WHEREAS, heavy reliance on suspensions and expulsions to create a positive school11
climate is clearly not the answer, as it fails to help a student develop the skills and strategies12
needed to improve behavior and has a tremendous academic cost in lost learning time; and13
WHEREAS, exclusionary school discipline practices are statistically proven to14
disproportionately impact students of color and students with disabilities; and15
WHEREAS, suspended students are less likely to graduate on time, are more likely16
to be suspended again, repeat a grade, or drop out of school and enter the juvenile justice17
system; and18 SCR NO. 134
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WHEREAS, removing a student from the classroom should be a last resort in1
addressing unacceptable behavior and the optimal way to intervene and improve academic2
and societal outcomes for these students is to identify and target the underlying causes of3
misbehavior; and4
WHEREAS, to assist schools, school districts, and states in addressing this serious5
issue, the United States departments of education and justice collaboratively launched the6
"Supportive School Discipline Initiative" to support the use of school discipline practices7
that foster safe, supportive, and productive learning environments, while keeping students8
in school; and9
WHEREAS, the role of the Initiative has been to provide schools with effective10
alternatives to suspensions and expulsions as a primary means of disciplining students, with11
a focus on reducing the disproportionality for students of color and students with disabilities;12
and13
WHEREAS, in January, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education released guidance14
to state, district, and school-level officials outlining principles and strategies for improving15
school climate and school discipline practices.16
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby17
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to examine and18
consider the status of school suspensions and expulsions, as well as plans to revise current19
school discipline policies in response to the "Supportive School Discipline Initiative"20
launched by the United States departments of education and justice.21
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board submit a written report to the Senate22
Committee on Education, the House Committee on Education, and the Senate Select23
Committee on Women and Children, not later than March 1, 2015.24
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Broome SCR No. 134
Requests BESE to examine and consider the status of school suspensions and expulsions,
as well as plans to revise current school discipline policies in response to the "Supportive
School Discipline Initiative" launched by the U.S. departments of education and justice. SCR NO. 134
SLS 14RS-2624 ORIGINAL
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Requires the board to submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education, the
House Committee on Education, and the Senate Select Committee on Women and Children,
not later than March 1, 2015.