The News: The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) applauds the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate for acting on AB 614 / SB 611, known as the Teacher Bill of Rights. The bill creates protections for teachers and students by strengthening teachers’ authority to manage their classrooms, requiring parental notification when serious incidents occur, and establishing clear accountability so teachers can focus on teaching. The bill now heads to Governor Tony Evers’ desk for consideration.
The Quote: WILL Deputy Counsel, Cory Brewer, stated, “In effective schools, students who disrupt learning are removed so others can learn, and parents are kept informed. The Teacher Bill of Rights reinforces these common-sense expectations and supports teachers in maintaining safe, productive classrooms. We encourage Governor Evers to sign this legislation.”
Background: The Teacher Bill of Rights responds to years of feedback from Wisconsin educators who report inconsistent discipline in public schools and a growing need for administrative support when managing disruptive students. Current data show that nearly half of Wisconsin teachers report that classroom conduct rules are enforced only sometimes or never, and over 25% report fear for their physical safety at school.
This bill directly addresses these concerns by:
- Strengthening Teachers’ Authority: Clarifying and reinforcing when teachers may remove disruptive or violent students to protect classroom safety and ensure instruction can continue.
- Creating Clear Classroom Re-Entry Plans: Requiring clear procedures so students are not automatically returned to a classroom without a plan to address the underlying behavior.
- Mandating Parental Notification: Ensuring parents are notified when a student is removed from class or witnesses a serious incident.
- Empowering Parents: Providing a limited enforcement mechanism for parents if school districts fail to comply with these transparency standards.
What’s Next: Having passed both the State Assembly and the State Senate, the Teacher Bill of Rights now awaits action by Governor Tony Evers.
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