WASHINGTON 鈥� With thousands of kids in third grade or younger being suspended and even expelled each year across Virginia, the state鈥檚 House of Delegates on Friday advanced two bills that would restrict school suspensions in the state.
Del. Dickie Bell of Staunton, who introduced both bills, said a suspension or expulsion does not teach the right lesson, especially for such young students.
鈥淚f that鈥檚 the only tool in your tool box, you鈥檙e not going to fix very much,鈥� he said.
Bell, speaking on the House floor, said there was more at stake.
鈥淏esides being overused, misused and abused, suspension and expulsion overrepresent minorities and children with special needs,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淚t has become a way for schools to put these children out of the way. Out of sight, out of mind.鈥�
One bill would bar any suspensions longer than five days for students in preschool through third grade, unless they have brought a gun or drugs to school property, or are found through the legal process to have committed a crime.
Fellow Republican Del. Greg Habeeb of Salem said he opposed the bill over concerns that the limited exceptions for longer suspensions were not enough.
鈥淵ou could have literally 鈥� I know we鈥檙e talking about small kids 鈥� but you could have a 9-year-old who stabs his brother at home and pre-conviction,鈥� Habeeb said. 鈥淭he school cannot remove that child from the school environment.鈥�
Habeeb continued: 鈥淚鈥檓 just not willing to take away the right of one of my school systems to remove a child who has proven to have violent tendencies and may have even committed violence against a classmate off school grounds.鈥�
Bell said that those instances would be covered by criminal charges.
The second Bell bill that the House of Delegates advanced for a final vote would limit the length of long-term suspensions for older students. The in committee.
Bell said that, combined, the bills could help ensure students鈥� constitutional rights to a quality education.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 say just the best-behaved, or the smartest. It says for all children of school age throughout the commonwealth,鈥� Bell said. 鈥淚f a student is suspended long-term or expelled in a school division where there is no alternative program, I fail to see how that鈥檚 a high quality education.鈥�
Today, the suspensions can be up to one year. The bill would cap suspensions at 45 school days unless the school principal or superintendent finds there are aggravating circumstances, as defined by a local school board. For suspensions up to the maximum of 90 days, the school system would be required to review the suspension after 45 days.
