Two proposed bills in the Wisconsin Legislature, Assembly Bill 614 and Assembly Bill 613, threaten to dramatically increase the use of punitive and exclusionary discipline in Wisconsin schools. On Thursday, November 6th, the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Education is having a Public Hearing on these two bills. These bills would expand the grounds for removing students from the classroom for “disruptive” behavior and increase teacher authority to exclude students.
This proposed legislation would likely disproportionately impact vulnerable groups in particular: students with disabilities, Black and brown students, and children with trauma histories. Black and brown students and students with disabilities already face alarming rates of exclusionary discipline in Wisconsin schools, and trauma-impacted students frequently express behavioral challenges rooted in their lived experiences. Expanding removal and exclusion powers without strong protections risks perpetuating harm and inequity for these children.
The Arc Wisconsin shared a post on social media stating why this bill could be bad for students with Disabilities. Here were concerns shared on that post:
- Vague definitions of “disruptive” or “violent” behavior could lead to students with disabilities being removed for behaviors related to their disability—like meltdowns, sensory overload, or difficulty with transitions.
- No requirement to consider disability-related behavior before removal. While the bill mentions behavior intervention plans (BIPs), it requires one only after a student has been removed multiple times or labeled “persistently disruptive.”
- Risk of exclusion without proper support. Students can be removed repeatedly without clear protections that ensure their needs are understood or accommodated. This could lead to isolation or denial of education.
- Parental notification rules may stigmatize students. The bill requires schools to notify parents if any “disruptive incident” occurs in a student’s classroom—even if the student wasn’t involved. This could create fear or misunderstanding about students with disabilities who express themselves differently.
- Behavior plans are reactive, not proactive. The bill doesn’t require schools to develop BIPs until after a student has been removed or labeled disruptive, rather than using them as a preventive support tool.
The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities (WBPDD) shared concerns about the bills in an email. Here are the concerns raised by WBPDD:
- Make it easier for teachers to take students out of classrooms if the teacher says the student’s behavior is disruptive.
- Add time-consuming paperwork requirements that can delay a student’s return to the classroom.
- Require the school to notify all parents of every student in the class each time a student is removed from the class, and say how the removed student diminished the quality or quantity of instructional time provided to the class.
We appreciate and agree with the concerns raised by The Arc Wisconsin and The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities. We also have concerns that the removal of students will lead to an increase in the use of physical restraint and seclusion, putting students, teachers, and staff at greater risk of trauma, physical injury, or even death. We are also deeply concerned about the use of the word “violent” in the Wisconsin bills. Words matter, and labeling dysregulated children as violent misrepresents their behavior and overlooks the intent behind it—these are children in distress, not children seeking to harm, and such language erodes empathy and understanding.
We urge Wisconsin families and community members to speak out loudly against these bills. Our children deserve schools that support and include all students, especially the most vulnerable among them.
If you are a Wisconsin resident:
- Provide public testimony in person at the Wisconsin State Capitol—hearing details: Thursday November 6th 10:00 AM at 417 North GAR Hall.
- Unable to attend due to short notice? You can submit public testimony via email. Contact Melissa Custer at mcuster131@gmail.com to arrange this.
- Contact your State Senator and State Representative to share your concerns. Find your legislators.
If you are not a Wisconsin resident:
- Share this call to action widely on social media.
- Share this with anyone you know in Wisconsin or anyone who might know someone who can help.
Together, we can defend the rights of students with disabilities, Black and brown students, and children with trauma histories. We must stop these bills from passing to prevent increases in harmful, exclusionary discipline and to promote equity in Wisconsin schools.
We stand with families and advocates fighting for inclusive, supportive, and just education for every child in Wisconsin.
