SB157 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public education employees; exclusion of students from classroom, provided for; principal authorized to suspend, expel, or recommend for alternative school certain students excluded from classroom; civil and criminal immunity provided to education employees; local boards of education authorized to reimburse or compensate employees for certain legal fees; rebuttable presumption, created; Board of Education, required to adopt rules

Summary

SB157 gives teachers authority to exclude certain students from the classroom under specific behaviors, sets return and discipline rules, provides educator immunities and legal expense support, and requires districts to adopt model policies and an appeal process.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes teachers to exclude students for disorderly conduct, disruption of learning, threats or abusive language toward staff or students, or willful disobedience, with the principal deciding when the student can return and what discipline applies. Readmission requires written certification to the teacher about return and any disciplinary actions; if disciplinary action is warranted, the principal must notify the parent or guardian. If a student is excluded twice in a semester and other discipline options are exhausted, readmission requires a conference and notice to the teacher and parent; after three exclusions in 30 days for certain grades, the student may receive in-school or out-of-school suspension or be placed in an alternative school. The State Board must adopt a model policy and local boards must adopt policies meeting minimum requirements, and an appeal process will be available for teachers to challenge principal decisions.

Who It Affects

• Teachers and other education employees who gain new authority to exclude students, plus immunity and potential access to legal expense reimbursement.
• Public school students (and their parents/guardians) who are excluded from the classroom, with defined readmission procedures, possible suspensions or alternative school placement, and required communications.

Key Provisions

• Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, a teacher may exclude from the classroom a student who engages in disorderly conduct, disrupts learning, threatens or abuses another, or uses profane language toward staff or students.
• The principal or designee determines when the excluded student may return and what disciplinary actions apply; the excluded student must receive written certification of readmission and any disciplinary actions.
• If excluded twice in a semester and other discipline methods are exhausted, readmission requires a conference among the principal, teacher, and parent/guardian, and the principal must inform the teacher of the disciplinary course and inform the parent.
• If a student is removed for certain behaviors and has three exclusions in a 30-day period, the student may be suspended (in-school or out-of-school) or placed in an alternative school, if available.
• Local boards must establish an appeal process for teachers to challenge a principal’s refusal to exclude or premature ending of an exclusion, effective 2024-2025.
• Education employees are immune from civil/criminal liability for actions taken under the policy, with specific exceptions for excessive force, willful/malicious/bad-faith actions, or violations of laws.
• The Educators' Liability Trust Fund may reimburse reasonable legal expenses for education employees facing civil or criminal actions arising from performance of duties; annual reporting of expenditures is required.
• There is a rebuttable presumption that a teacher acted to restore or maintain safety and the instructional atmosphere when a classroom management plan approved by the principal is followed; plans must be approved before the 10th day of instruction.
• State Board must adopt a model policy; local boards may adopt the model or another policy that meets minimum requirements.
• Data on disciplinary actions under this act must be collected and reported to the State Department of Education, which will report to the Legislature.
• The act does not change rights under IDEA, FERPA, Section 504, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, and student information must be handled in accordance with those laws.
• The act becomes effective June 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education