AB 2028 (Teacher Discipline & Dismissal) On the Move

AB 2028 (Knight and Smyth), which amends the procedure for disciplining teachers for misconduct, has passed through the Assembly Education Committee.  Among other changes to current law, AB 2028 would allow districts to initiate dismissal process during the summer months; would eliminate the 45 or 90-notice for unprofessional conduct or unsatisfactory performance; changes the Commission on Professional Competence to include only the administrative law judge, whose decision would be advisory in nature only with final decision being made by the governing board; and eliminate the prohibition of evidence more than four years old.

At least three other bills related to teacher misconduct were also introduced this year: AB 1681 (stripping teachers who are convicted of misconduct of their pensions), SB 1059 and SB 1530 (which both modify the notice and hearing procedures required for teacher dismissals, in line with AB 2028).

These bills were introduced in response to recent allegations of teacher misconduct, including the allegations against a Miramonte Elementary School teacher who has been charged with 23 counts of lewd conduct and who was under investigation for two years.

We will continue to monitor and report on the progress of these bills.

Meghan Covert Russell

Cyberbullying Education Needs to Begin Before Middle School Study Suggests

A new study by Stephanie Englander of Bridgewater University suggests that 83 percent of middle schoolers, 39 percent of fifth-graders, and 20 percent of third-graders have their own cell phone.  The study was conducted for the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center with the hopes of determining whether readily available technology, such as cell phones, plays a role in cyberbullying.

Cell phone use graph in Research Findings: MARC 2011 Survey Grades 3-12

(Credit: Elizabeth Englander/Bridgewater State University)

In her report, Englander recommends that "Education on cyberbullying and cyber-behaviors needs to begin well before Middle School ... Children are all online by third grade and over 20 percent report experiencing problems with peers online." Another interesting finding is that while in-school bullying decreases as children age, cyberbullying increases.

At what grade do your schools begin to address cyberbullying?  How do you talk to elementary students differently than high school students regarding cyberbullying?

Englander's full report is available here.

Meghan Covert Russell