Bill > SB364

This bill mandates that beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, all public school students in Alabama must complete a course or program focused on violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation before graduating from high school, with this instruction starting in the sixth grade. The curriculum will cover topics such as responsible decision-making, understanding school violence and harassment, cultural diversity, nonviolent conflict resolution methods including peer mediation, the consequences of violent behavior, the causes of violent reactions to conflict, the connection between substance abuse and violence, and the implementation of peer mediation programs. To support this, the State Department of Education is required to develop and provide instructional materials, models, and curricula by June 30, 2027, and assist local school boards in training teachers. Local school boards will have the authority to decide on the specific curriculum to meet these requirements, and the State Board of Education will establish necessary rules to implement this new mandate.