Overview of the Alabama Teacher Bill of Rights
Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, the Alabama Teacher Bill of Rights (ATBOR) gives teachers the right to control the learning environment in their classrooms by excluding consistently disruptive students and requires school administration to respond in accordance with the local student code of conduct.
What it Doesn't Do?
ATBOR does not replace a local school district’s student code of conduct or mandate any specific disciplinary action against a student.
Who Can Exclude?
A professional educator who has a direct instructional or counseling relationship with students and who spends the majority of his or her time in this capacity. However, a teacher can exclude any student who threatens, abuses, intimidates, or attempts to intimidate any education employee.
You must develop a classroom management plan and have it approved by your administration. Make sure you receive written confirmation of your approved classroom management plan.
Reasons to Exclude:
ATBOR allows a teacher to exclude a student from their classroom for the following reasons:
- Disorderly Conduct: Any conduct that intentionally disrupts, disturbs, or interferes with the teaching of students; or disturbs the peace, order, or discipline at any school.
- When a student behaves in a manner that obstructs the teacher or learning process of others in the classroom;
- When a student threatens, abuses, intimidates, or attempts to intimidate an education employee or another student;
- When a student willfully disobeys an education employee; or
- When a student uses abusive or profane language directed at an education employee.
What Can You Do?
Take notes: Document, document, document! Keep the documentation that you receive from your principal as well.
Use common sense: Be prepared to use it when the situation calls for it, but do not abuse it.
Federal Guidelines
ATBOR contains specific language designed to maintain compliance with federal special education laws including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Those laws must always be followed.
ATBOR protects teachers by giving them civil and criminal immunity for actions they take in addressing student behavior so long as those actions are taken in compliance with the rules set forth by the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) and their local board of education’s policies.
