Too Many Students Are Ticketed For Minor Misbehavior At School
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kirsten Bokenkamp, Senior Communications Strategist, ACLU Foundation of Texas
(713) 942-8146 x 109 or (832) 691-7013; [email protected]
AUSTIN –ACLU of Texas Policy Strategist Matt Simpson today asked state lawmakers to decriminalize childish misbehavior at school.
Simpson emphasized that serious behavioral problems at school cannot be ignored and that educators need effective school discipline. But disruption of class and acting out on a school bus shouldn’t be criminal offenses, Simpson told an interim hearing of the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Corrections.
“Schools need to enforce campus-based discipline to address these types of behaviors instead of sending children to criminal court,” Simpson said. The ACLU of Texas also promotes the expansion of teen courts in school districts as an alternative to ticketing and suspensions for minor infractions.
Simpson recommended that Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code be amended so that disruption of class and disruption of transportation are not criminal offenses.
Simpson also recommended additional policies that would reduce the number of young Texans referred to the juvenile justice system for childish misbehavior at school.
It is estimated that more than 275,000 non-traffic tickets are issued to juveniles in Texas each year. “We know that the majority of tickets issued to youth are for school-related infractions, but until we have consistent statewide data, we will not know precisely how widespread the problem is. We simply need better data in order to ensure that students’ rights are protected and to understand how so many youth enter the juvenile justice system,” Simpson said. Currently, schools are not required to report data on student ticketing, arrests, or use of restraints.
Simpson recommended that Texas schools adopt Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to improve student behavior, decrease ticketing, and create a positive learning environment. “PBIS is an approach that benefits the whole school environment, and keeps children on the track to succeed. That is what we need to ensure a bright future for Texas,” Simpson said.
Please see the attachment for a copy of Simpson’s testimony.
