Substitute Senate Bill No. 380 (sSB380 File No. 347) proposes amendments to the general statutes concerning school discipline, effective July 1, 2024. It revises the conditions under which out-of-school suspensions can be imposed, particularly for students in preschool to second grade, where suspensions are limited to instances of serious physical harm and capped at two school days. The bill also modifies the age range for reporting student arrests to school superintendents, raising the minimum age from seven to ten years old, and outlines specific reporting requirements for possession of a firearm versus other offenses. Additionally, the bill mandates the provision of trauma-informed services for suspended students and the consideration of special education evaluations.

The bill further addresses school climate initiatives by establishing a social and emotional learning and school climate advisory collaborative, which is responsible for developing standards for school climate surveys, a model school climate improvement plan, and an assessment for suicide risk. It creates the position of a statewide director of school climate improvement, who will assist in implementing various statutes related to school climate and social and emotional learning, and will develop tools and best practices for improving service delivery in these areas. The bill also requires the State Department of Education to report on bullying incidents and includes provisions for the development of technical assistance and recommendations for school boards on employee trainings to improve school climate. The bill passed the Education Committee with a Joint Favorable Substitute vote of 31-13 on March 20, 2024. The summary does not specify insertions or deletions from current law, indicating that the bill may introduce new provisions or revise existing ones without explicit reference to changes in legal language.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-233h
ED Joint Favorable Substitute: 10-233h
File No. 347: 10-233h