NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Legislature has passed a bill that would require public schools in Tennessee to report to the state Department of Education on their use of corporal punishment.
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If the governor signs the bill, school systems must give details that include: each school where children were spanked, the reason corporal punishment was used and whether the discipline involved a disabled student. In cases where the children have special needs, the report must describe the type of disability the student has.
A report released last month by the state comptroller’s office showed that disabled students were getting disciplined at a higher rate than other children in recent years.
A measure that would mostly ban the spanking of disabled children at school has passed in the House and is moving through the Senate.