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A 4388

Prohibits the use of remote or virtual learning as a form of punishment or disciplinary action

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kwani O'Pharrow

Prohibits using remote or virtual learning as punishment; schools must rely on in-person sanctions, affecting students, staff, and families.

REFERRED TO EDUCATION
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Bill Summary · A 4388

Summary of Assembly Bill A 4388

Overview

  • Bill number: A 4388
  • Title / purpose: Prohibits the use of remote or virtual learning as a form of punishment or disciplinary action.
  • Status: Referred to the Education Committee.
  • Introduced: February 4, 2025
  • Sponsor: Kwani O'Pharrow (primary)
  • Related bills: A 7913 and A 1847 (prior-session); S 1682 (companion in the Senate)

What the bill would do

  • The central aim, based on the title, is to ban the use of remote or virtual learning as a punitive measure or disciplinary action by schools. In practice, this would mean that teachers, principals, and school districts could not assign students to participate in online or remote learning as a consequence for misbehavior or disciplinary infractions.

Key provisions (inferred from the bill’s title; full text would provide precise language)

  • Prohibition on punitive remote learning: Schools could not implement remote/virtual instruction or online-based assignments as punishment for students’ behavior or disciplinary issues.
  • Alternatives to punishment: The bill would likely require schools to pursue in-person disciplinary actions or other non-remote sanctions, rather than remote learning as punishment.
  • Definitions and scope: The full text would define terms such as “remote learning,” “virtual learning,” and “punishment,” and specify which grades, programs, or districts are covered.
  • Implementation and enforcement: Provisions would address who enforces the rule (districts, school principals), potential penalties for violations, and compliance timelines. (Exact details would be in the enacted text.)

Who would be affected

  • Students: Ensures that disciplinary consequences cannot involve remote/online instruction as punishment.
  • School districts and administrators: Must adjust disciplinary policies and practices to comply with the prohibition; may need to develop in-person or alternative sanctions.
  • Educators and staff: Guidance and training to apply appropriate disciplinary measures that do not rely on remote learning.
  • Families: Impacts expectations regarding how disciplinary actions are carried out and communicated.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • The bill is in the early committee stage, having been referred to the Education Committee on February 4, 2025.
  • The presence of companion and related bills suggests potential parallel actions in other chambers and prior-session considerations.

Context and related legislation

  • Companions and related bills: S 1682 (Senate) is noted as a companion; A 7913 and A 1847 are prior-session related measures. Tracking these can provide insight into similar policy approaches and amendments that may appear in A 4388.

Considerations for readers

  • The exact provisions, definitions, and enforcement mechanisms will be clearer once the full text is released. Key questions to watch include: How is “remote learning” defined? Are there exceptions (e.g., medical exemptions, IEP/504 accommodations)? What are the enforcement remedies for noncompliance?

For those monitoring the bill, keep an eye on subsequent committee hearings, amendments, and the final enacted language to understand the precise impact and implementation timeline.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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