Bill would give parents access to expulsion evidence

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to suspend or expel a student with that student’s parents or guardians before a disciplinary hearing.

Senate Bill 2876, sponsored by Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, addresses what she calls a growing problem of parents being denied access to evidence used in disciplining their children. Bryant said the issue came to her attention after learning that several grade school students had been suspended based on video evidence that their parents were not allowed to see.

“In one case, practically the whole school was able to view the video,” Bryant told TCS. “Teachers, student workers and even students saw it. But when the parents asked to see what was being used against their child, they were denied.”

According to Bryant, the incident involved students shadowboxing in a school gym. While several students were involved, only some were disciplined after one student was struck. The video ...