WILL Supports Teacher Bill of Rights

Tell Governor Evers to Support the Teacher Bill of Rights!

A bill going to Governor Tony Evers’ desk right now would create protections for teachers and students by strengthening teachers’ authority to manage their classrooms, requiring parental notification when serious incidents occur, and establishing clear accountability so teachers can focus on teaching. Sign your name to the following letter below.

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Dear Governor Evers,

I’m writing to ask you to sign Assembly Bill 614, legislation that helps restore safe and orderly classrooms for Wisconsin students and teachers.

Safe classrooms are essential for learning. When classrooms are disrupted by violence, threats, or constant disorder, students cannot focus and teachers cannot do their jobs. Unfortunately, these kinds of issues are becoming more common in many schools.

They are also one of the reasons good teachers are leaving the profession. A recent Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation reviewing hundreds of teacher exit surveys found that many educators who left their jobs cited burnout, lack of support, and concerns about classroom safety. Too many teachers say they are spending more time dealing with disruptions and breaking up fights than actually teaching.

AB 614 takes a commonsense step to address these problems. It makes clear that teachers have the authority to maintain order in their classrooms and that they should be supported when they remove students who are disrupting learning or creating safety issues. Supporting teachers and ensuring safe classrooms should not be controversial. Students learn best when teachers have the ability to maintain a calm and respectful learning environment.

Please sign AB 614 to support Wisconsin teachers and help make classrooms safer for everyone.

Sincerely,
[Name]
[ZIP Code]

Tell Governor Evers to support safe classrooms:*

LEGISLATION ENSURES TEACHERS ARE EMPOWERED AND SUPPORTED

LEARN MORE:

The News: Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) supports the Teacher Bill of Rights, AB 614 / SB 611, introduced by Representative Goeben and Senator Cabral-Guevara. The legislation clarifies and strengthens teachers’ authority to maintain order in the classroom, protects teachers from retaliation when they enforce classroom rules or respond to disruptive or violent behavior, and ensures transparency and accountability when serious behavior incidents occur at school.

The Quote: WILL Deputy Counsel, Cory Brewer, stated, “Teachers cannot teach and students cannot learn in chaotic or unsafe classrooms. This legislation restores common sense by clearly affirming teachers’ authority to maintain order, removing ambiguity that has left educators unsupported, and ensuring that serious disruptions are addressed in a structured and transparent way. The Teacher Bill of Rights puts classroom safety, instructional time, and fairness back at the center of school discipline.”

Teacher Bill of Rights: In recent years, teachers across Wisconsin have reported growing disruptions in classrooms, inconsistent discipline practices, and pressure to tolerate behavior that interferes with learning or compromises safety. Exit surveys from MPS reveal that many teachers leave because of unsafe or unmanageable classrooms and lack of support, conditions that make it hard for students to learn. The Teacher Bill of Rights responds by setting clear expectations, reinforcing teacher authority, and requiring school districts to adopt and follow transparent policies when serious behavior issues arise, so educators can focus on teaching and students can focus on learning.

WHAT IT DOES

  1. Strengthens Teachers Authority: Clarifies when teachers may remove disruptive or violent students to protect classroom safety and allow instruction to continue.
  2. Prevents Automatic Re-Entry: Requires principals to follow board-adopted safety policies and, in serious or repeated cases, ensures behavior intervention plans are in place before a student returns to class.
  3. Mandates Parental Notification: Ensures parents are notified when students are removed from class or when serious or violent incidents occur.
  4. Promotes Transparency and Accountability: Requires school boards to adopt written safety policies and provides a limited enforcement mechanism if districts fail to comply.
  5. Protects Teachers from Retaliation: Prohibits adverse employment action against teachers for enforcing classroom rules in good faith or taking steps to maintain safety.

CALLING ALL TEACHERS, PARENTS, AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS:

If the Teacher Bill of Rights legislation resonates with you, WILL is collecting real-world stories from teachers, parents, and school board members about classroom authority, student behavior, and whether educators are receiving the support they need from their school administrations. These firsthand experiences will help inform our legal and policy work to restore order, accountability, and respect in classrooms. If you’re willing to share your story, please complete the survey below.

Take The Survey
Read More:
Cory Brewer

Cory Brewer

Deputy Counsel

Lauren Greuel

Lauren Greuel

Associate Counsel

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