URGENT ACTION NEEDED ON HB 1548

HB 1548 (Del. Kory) was reported out of the Senate Education and Health Committee today and will be before the full Senate soon. This bill requires that the school principal or designee notify the parents of any student who violates a school board policy or the compulsory attendance requirements when such violation "is likely to" result in the student's suspension or the filing of a court petition. We already have elaborate reporting procedures in place for absences and student discipline. This bill would impose additional reporting requirements on school personnel. Moreover, we are concerned that this bill will enable parents to interfere with investigations of student misconduct and to challenge disciplinary decisions on the grounds that the notice required by this bill was not given early enough. Please contact your Senator now and ask him or her to vote AGAINST HB 1548.