Safe Classroom

SAFE CLASSROOM LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

The state of Iowa has established a law that is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to creating a safe learning space for students and teachers.  The law is published as Senate File 2360 (SF 2360). This law applies to local school districts, AEAs, and accredited nonpublic schools and the children these employees serve.

There are several parts to SF 2360 including:

• developing and distributing evidence-based standards for the response to behavior that presents an imminent threat of bodily injury,
• incentives for school districts to create therapeutic classrooms for students with social-emotional-behavioral health needs,
• requirements for teacher preparation programs that contribute to the education of students with disabilities and students who are gifted and talented,
• school reporting requirements for incidents of violence, assault and referral to a therapeutic classroom, and
• restrictions and parent notification requirements in the event of a classroom clear.

Restrictions on the Use of Classroom Clears: A key component of this law is about ensuring that educators have a range of classroom management tools that match the intensity of the concern and create a safe learning environment for students and teachers. This law makes clear that while a classroom clear may be necessary in the event of an imminent threat of bodily injury, it is not an appropriate response to less threatening behaviors. This law does the following: 1) restricts the use of classroom clears; 2) bans classroom clears in Individual Education Plans (IEP) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP); 3) requires notification to parents when there is a classroom clear; and 4) requires schools to request to meet with parents when their child is involved in an incident giving rise to a classroom clear.  Note: In the event the building principal must notify you regarding a classroom clear, due to FERPA, the principal must not share the name or identity of any student/s involved in the incident giving rise to the classroom clear.