Sacramento – Wednesday afternoon, the Assembly Committee on Education convened and passed AB 667 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes with unanimous bi-partisan support. The bill, which notifies a student of other means taken before suspension, aims to provide the student with a transparent accounting of the proceeding in order to help curb the school attendance crisis in our state. This bill also ensures that “other means of correction” are being pursued in advance of suspension from school.
“Given California’s attendance crisis, transparency around this issue is critical,” said Assemblymember Reyes. “AB 667 ensures students are notified of other means of correction attempted and provides clarity around suspension procedures.”
It’s currently estimated that 210,000 students in K-5 missed 10% of the school year in 2015-2016. When suspension is used as a primary tool for disciplining students, it’s shown to only exacerbate the problem of poor attendance.
AB 667 will be heard next in the Assembly Appropriations committee. For more information on the bill, click here.
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes represents Assembly District 47 which includes the cities of Fontana, Rialto, Colton, Grand Terrace, San Bernardino and the unincorporated areas of Muscoy and Bloomington.
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Contact: Galen Dobbins, (916) 319-2047, galen.dobbins@asm.ca.gov