The bill establishes the Youth Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Pilot Program within the Community School Grant Program, set to begin no later than the 2026-2027 school year and lasting for three school years. The program aims to reduce juvenile violence by equipping students with essential skills for peaceful conflict resolution through a specified curriculum. The Center for Community Schools at the University of Central Florida is tasked with implementing the program, collaborating with the Department of Education to select an appropriate curriculum, and identifying participating middle or high schools, particularly those with high rates of juvenile violence.
Participating schools will be required to provide training on the curriculum, equip students with conflict resolution skills, and collect relevant data on student discipline and juvenile violence before and after the program's implementation. The Center will monitor the program's progress, assist schools in integrating the curriculum, and ultimately provide a report to the Department of Education detailing enrollment numbers, discipline rates, survey results, and recommendations for broader curriculum inclusion. The pilot program will expire upon the submission of this report.