Bills Would Ensure Students Are Fed in Future Federal Funding Disruptions

Chaos and fear disrupted learning in schools as hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin children and their families wondered about where the next meal would come from during the federal shutdown. Educators from La Crosse to Green Bay took on extra efforts to collect food and provide answers to struggling parents. Now, as things settle down, some lawmakers are advancing legislation to make sure Wisconsin families are supported in times of uncertainty. 

Legislation circulating by Democrats at the state Capitol would support farmers and families in the state through grant programs, which bill authors call a commonsense response to continued chaos caused by the Trump Administration. Along with the grant programs, the WEAC-backed Healthy School Meals for All bill was again highlighted. WEAC is part of the Healthy School Meals for All coalition because the legislation would save the average family $154 per month per child while ensuring students have the nutrition needed to learn and thrive.  Learn more about our efforts here. 

“Teacher Bill of Rights” Package Misses Mark on What We Really Need 

A series of bills are being considered, which Republican authors are calling the ‘Teacher Bill of Rights,” are in the spotlight now that they’ve advanced out of committee and onto the full Assembly. 

• Removing Children from Classrooms (AB-614). This bill is drawing concerns from disability rights advocates and education groups over the likely increase in seclusion and restraint practices, as well as the implications for students with Individual Education Plans and an onslaught of additional reporting requirements that would require educators to spend even more time filling out forms instead of teaching students. This bill mirrors existing law with a few additional reasons for removing students, including causing or participating in a disruptive or violent incident, interrupting instruction or compromising safety and repeatedly not complying with classroom rules. In large measure, the bill continues to put authority over enforcement and return to classroom in the hands of the principal but would require a plan to be created before the child is returned to the classroom. The bill was amended from original form to prohibit teachers from removing a child who is displaying behavior consistent with a disability identified in an IEP. 
• Immediate Parent Notification of Classroom Disruptions (AB 613). This bill requires schools to notify parents of a pupil by email by 5 p.m. any time the child is removed from class. Immediate notification is also required to all families in a class in cases of safety drills required by law, such as fire and lockdown drills. A report to the school board and DPI is also required on the number of removals requiring parental notification each year.