MLP | Boston Attorney Supports Education Bill in State House Testimony

MLP | Boston Staff Attorney Samuel Senft testified in favor of House Bill 3435 (An Act to Help Students Stay in School) today in front of the Commonwealth’s Joint Committee on Education. His remarks were presented as part of a panel assembled by the Education Law Coalition.

Addressing concern that children are too often forced to miss classes for disciplinary purposes (via suspension or expulsion), the bill takes on the problem of unnecessary school exclusion by requiring school personnel to consider non-exclusionary methods of discipline prior to suspending or expelling a child. If the bill is passed, school personnel would retain their authority to suspend children, but several changes would occur: 1) The school would have to explain the reasons for exclusion in writing; 2) a maximum cap would be placed on the number of days a student could be excluded; and 3) a right to appeal with the Commissioner of Education would be provided.

In his testimony, Attorney Senft advocated for this more progressive, child-centered policy and warned of the negatives consequences of zero tolerance policies. Citing instances of personal experience, Mr. Senft noted to the committee that minor (non-violent, non-drug related) classroom offenses are often punished with a suspension that sets the child back further. Additionally, such punishments have been disproportionately applied to negatively impact low-income children, racial and ethnic minorities, and children with disabilities.

The bill also drew support from MLP | Boston allies Massachusetts Advocates for Children, Massachusetts Appleseed, and South Coastal Counties Legal Services; MLP | Boston looks forward to its passage.