Bill > SR104

This Resolution urges the Department of Education, the State Public Charter School Commission, and each county's police commission to work together and create clear guidelines, called governing protocols, for how student discipline and police involvement on school grounds should be handled. These protocols, which should be developed by August 1, 2022, and include input from experts, aim to clarify when school staff should handle student misbehavior using school resources like counselors, and when it is appropriate to involve the police. The resolution also specifies how police should interact with students of different age groups, including procedures for questioning, searching, and making arrests, and emphasizes notifying parents. Furthermore, it encourages the use of restorative justice programs, which focus on repairing harm and accountability, and requests a report on findings and recommendations to the Legislature. This initiative is prompted by concerns over inconsistent disciplinary practices, highlighted by a specific incident involving a young student, and aims to reduce student suspensions, expulsions, and arrests while improving graduation rates, as supported by national studies.