Education
Education

Lawmakers to schools: stop suspending students

Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Decatur, sponsored Senate Bill 152 to encourage schools to send students to alternative education programs rather than suspend or expel them. The House Education Committee approved the bill Monday in a 9-6 vote.

Credit: Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com

Credit: Jason Getz, jgetz@ajc.com

Sen. Emanuel Jones, D-Decatur, sponsored Senate Bill 152 to encourage schools to send students to alternative education programs rather than suspend or expel them. The House Education Committee approved the bill Monday in a 9-6 vote.
By Will Robinson
March 21, 2017

The House Education Committee voted 9-6 Monday to approve a bill to make alternative education Georgia’s preferred school disciplinary policy rather than suspension or expulsion.

By stating "it is preferable," Senate Bill 152 preserves local control over disciplinary decisions, but the bill draws attention to schools that excessively suspend or expel students.

"This bill does not interfere in any way with the disciplinary process," said the bill's sponsor, Senator Emanuel Jones, D-Decatur.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 52-0 on March 1. Its next step will be to come before the House for a full vote.

RELATED: Track bills, lawmakers: Georgia Legislative Navigator

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