Governor M. Jodi Rell has signed a bill that generally prohibits out-of-school suspensions and extends, from five to 10 days, the maximum length of in-school suspensions.
The new law, effective July 1, 2008, requires suspensions to be in-school suspensions unless the school administration determines that the student either poses such a danger to persons or property or is so disruptive of the educational process that he or she must serve the suspension outside of school.
“Students should be removed from the school setting only under the most exceptional circumstances,” Governor Rell said.“Student learning takes place primarily when students are in school.That is why we need policies like this that keep students in school, not at home.Keeping children out of school is a direct line to delinquent behavior.Students get farther behind in their course work.They lose hope of catching up.It’s a recipe for failure.”
Public schools in Connecticut issued more than 77,000 out-of-school suspensions in 2005-06 to students ranging from pre-kindergartners to high school seniors, according to the state Department of Education.
Under current law, a student can be suspended for conduct that violates a publicized school board policy or seriously disrupts the educational process.A student can also be suspended for conduct on school grounds or at a school sponsored activity that endangers persons or property. Current law defines suspension as exclusion from school privileges, or from transportation services only, for up to 10 consecutive school days.
Current law defines in-school suspension as exclusion from classroom activity, but not from school, for up to five consecutive days. The new law extends this to 10 consecutive days. Under existing law, an exclusion from school privileges for more than 10 days constitutes an expulsion.
