The proposed bill aims to enhance student discipline policies in public schools by mandating that school district boards of directors assess students' adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) prior to implementing disciplinary actions. Specifically, it requires that public school administrators or their designees make reasonable requests for information regarding any ACEs that may have influenced a student's behavior before placing them in alternative learning environments or applying exclusionary disciplinary actions, such as out-of-school suspensions or expulsions. The bill defines ACEs and outlines various forms they may take, including physical or emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and parental separation.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of considering a student's ACEs when determining appropriate disciplinary measures, suggesting that behavioral supports should be provided if a direct causal relationship is established between the ACEs and the student's behavior. It also encourages the use of positive behavioral supports and resources to address students' needs at different intervention levels, ensuring that disciplinary actions are not only punitive but also supportive of students' emotional and behavioral health. The State Board of Education is granted the authority to create necessary rules for the implementation of these provisions.

Statutes affected:
HB 1791: 6-18-516(a)