For Immediate Release February 23, 2011

Delegate Kaye Kory Creates a Task Force to Study Code Changes for School Discipline Reform

Virginia Delegate Kaye Kory (D-38) is convening a task force to examine the Virginia State Code that is the basis for discipline processes used by all school systems in the state. The goal of the task force is to identify improvements to shift discipline approaches from inflexible and punitive to educational and constructive.

Discipline processes that work best involve parents and teachers as full partners and result in compassionate, reasonable, and humane systems that focus on the welfare of individual children and a positive, safe learning environment. They include prevention programs, objective due process, support on suspension, and successful re-entry for children. To be effective, discipline processes also require continuous, evidence-based monitoring for desired outcomes.

Kory will be working with stakeholders and supporters of HB 1548, a bill she authored that requires school principal or designee to notify parents of a student who violates school board policy when such violations are likely to result in the student's suspension or expulsion.

The bill passed the House unanimously, but failed in the Senate on February 21, 2011. Supporters of HB 1548 include the Family Foundation, Voices for Children, Fairfax Zero Tolerance Reform, and other concerned community members. Kory stated, "My intent was that a serious violation that could lead to serious disciplinary consequences would trigger notification of a parent or guardian." # # #