Bill > SB1790

This bill, known as the "Protected Learning Environment Act," aims to create a safer and more orderly school environment by establishing standardized discipline procedures across all public schools in Oklahoma. It directs the State Department of Education to develop and publish comprehensive guidance for a "discipline matrix," which is a tiered system outlining specific student behaviors, appropriate consequences, and interventions for all grades. This guidance must comply with federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and will include strategies for managing minor misbehavior, addressing more serious or repeated issues, and handling major infractions like violence or threats. School districts will be required to adopt a discipline matrix based on this state guidance by the 2027-2028 school year, train their staff on it, and make it accessible to parents. The act also clarifies when teachers can remove a student from class for safety or disruption, mandates that removed students receive continued instruction in an alternative setting, and requires parents to attend conferences for students with repeated behavioral issues. The State Department of Education will provide support and training to schools for implementing these new procedures, which are intended to ensure fairness, consistency, and a focus on academic progress and school safety.