Sacramento – Yesterday afternoon, Governor Brown signed into law AB 667 by Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes. AB 667 ensures that a student and their parent/guardian are notified of prior corrective action that was taken before resorting to suspending the student from school. This bill aims to provide the suspended student and their parent/guardian with a full and transparent accounting of the proceedings in order to help curb the school attendance crisis that is ongoing around the state.
This bill also ensures that “other means of correction” are being pursued in advance of suspension from school. Current law requires that a suspension only be imposed when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. These corrective actions can include referrals to counselors, behavior supports and after school programs. AB667 informs all parties of the alternative methods attempted before a suspension is applied.
“Keeping our students in school is the best tool we have to ensure our objective of Cradle to Career. Given our state’s attendance crisis, transparency around this issue is critical” said Assemblymember Reyes. “AB 667, ensures students and their parents or guardians are notified of prior actions that were attempted to resolve the student’s behavior prior to suspension of the student.”
It is currently estimated that 210,000 students in K-5 in our state 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.
For more information on AB667 or to view the bill in its entirety, 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, galen.dobbins@asm.ca.gov, (916) 319-2047