MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WTVM) – Taylor’s Law, an Alabama law that ties student behavior to eligibility for a driver’s license, has been in effect since 2009. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is clarifying the law after several media outlets reported it as new this year.
How the point system works
The law uses a point system that can delay when a student becomes eligible to receive a driver’s license or permit. Students can begin accumulating points at age 13. For every point a student has, they must wait one additional week from the date they would otherwise become eligible.
Points are assigned based on school disciplinary actions:
- In-school suspension (ISS): Students earn one point for each day of ISS. However, points do not begin counting until the fourth day of ISS, at which point all days count.
- Out-of-school suspension (OSS): A student’s first out-of-school suspension of two days or fewer does not count. On the next day a student is suspended, those initial two days are retroactively counted at two points per day, and two points per day are assessed for each subsequent out-of-school suspension day.
- Alternative school: Students earn six points for an alternative school placement.
- Expulsion: Students earn 20 points if they get expelled.
Points can be reduced or erased
Students have a path to reduce their point totals. If a student goes one full year without a disciplinary incident, half of their accumulated points are removed. If a student completes two consecutive clean years, all points are wiped out entirely.
School administrator weighs in
Lisa Trammell, assistant principal at Russell County High School, said she believes the law will help reduce behavioral issues among students.
“Oh absolutely, I hope so. I feel like that’s the whole intent is just to cut down on a lot of discipline things. And help the students that might have been causing trouble in the past to understand that this is serious,” Trammell said…