This bill proposes several updates to the current statutes regarding the discipline, suspension, and expulsion of students in Arizona. Notably, it introduces a new provision stating that any penalty imposed by a charter school for a student's unexcused absence cannot include suspension. Additionally, the bill replaces the term "pupil" with "student" throughout the existing statutes, ensuring consistent terminology. It also specifies that penalties for excessive absenteeism may not include suspension, reinforcing the new prohibition against using suspension as a penalty for unexcused absences.

Furthermore, the bill maintains existing procedural requirements for school districts regarding the discipline of students, including the need for rules that align with students' constitutional rights and the establishment of procedures for handling cases of suspension and expulsion. It emphasizes that all disciplinary actions must be for good cause and cannot be based solely on absenteeism. The bill also mandates that all rules related to discipline, suspension, and expulsion be communicated to students and their parents at the time of enrollment and at the beginning of each school year. Overall, these updates aim to create a more equitable and transparent disciplinary process within Arizona's educational system.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-186.02, 15-843