Bill > H406

This bill amends existing Massachusetts General Laws to establish new procedures for student discipline and alternative education programs in schools. It allows teachers to send disruptive students to the principal's office for disciplinary action, and principals are required to use appropriate techniques consistent with the school's code of conduct, which may include transferring students to an alternative education program. Teachers can also remove students who repeatedly interfere with classroom learning or whose behavior is excessively unruly, with principals having the option to place these students in in-school suspension or an alternative program, potentially prohibiting them from participating in school activities. A three-member committee, composed of teachers and a principal, will be established in each school to handle student re-admission cases when a teacher refuses to have a student return to their class, and to make recommendations for readmitting expelled students. Students engaging in retaliation against school employees will be automatically placed in an alternative education program. These alternative programs are defined as separate educational settings, either on or off campus, that focus on core subjects and self-discipline, provide supervision and counseling, and aim for zero tolerance for school violence, with options for transfer to different campuses or community-based centers. The bill also outlines the Department of Education's role in assisting districts with developing these programs and establishing a grant program to support them, ensuring that funding per student in alternative programs is equivalent to regular programs. Finally, it addresses the transfer of placement orders when a student enrolls in a new school district and allows for educational and support services for offenses involving drugs or alcohol.