HSB 206

The ombudsman must maintain secrecy in respect to the identities of the complainants. The bill provides that if a school district requires an employee to participate in a particular professional development program, the school district is required to provide notice to the employee indicating the section of the Code, or rules adopted by the state board of education or the BOEE, that the school district determines requires the employee to participate in the professional development program.21, an employee of a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or area education agency is prohibited from inflicting corporal punishment upon a student.21 provides that physical contact with a student that is reasonable and necessary under the circumstances and that is not designed or intended to cause pain is not corporal punishment.21 after entering into an initial contract with the teacher and each time the contract is renewed. The bill requires a teacher employed by a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or charter school to notify the parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school by telephonic means within hours after the teacher witnesses the student suffer a bodily injury. The bill prohibits school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, and charter schools from taking any disciplinary action against an employee or a contractor for disclosing information to any public official or law enforcement agency if the employee or contractor reasonably believes the information evidences a violation of law or rule, mismanagement, a gross abuse of funds, an abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific danger to public health or safety. “Disciplinary action” includes termination of employment or the contractual relationship, suspension from employment, demotion, financial penalties, and written or verbal reprimands. The bill allows a teacher employed by a school district, accredited nonpublic school, or charter school to remove a disruptive student from the classroom under the supervision of a school resource officer or the lead administrator located in the attendance center. The first time a teacher removes a disruptive student from the classroom in a semester the school is required to facilitate a counseling session between the student and a school counselor and place the student in one school day of in-school suspension after the counseling session takes place. The second time a teacher removes a disruptive student from the classroom in a semester the school is required to facilitate a counseling session between the student and a school counselor and place the student in five consecutive school days of in-school suspension after the counseling session takes place. _____ teacher’s class and, if the student is enrolled in grades through 12, the student shall not receive high school credit for the class.