The bill proposes to repeal and replace section 160.261 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, establishing new requirements for school district discipline policies. It mandates that each local board of education create a written policy that includes guidelines on corporal punishment, reporting acts of school violence, and the consequences for students who violate these policies. The bill specifies that corporal punishment cannot be administered without prior written consent from a parent or guardian, and it requires school administrators to report violent acts to relevant personnel and law enforcement. Additionally, it outlines the conditions under which suspended students may be present on school property and establishes a one-year suspension or expulsion for students who bring weapons to school. New provisions in the bill clarify that students expelled for bringing weapons or committing acts of violence will not be counted as dropouts for accreditation purposes. Furthermore, starting in the 2026-27 school year, any student suspended, expelled, or removed for acts of school violence will not have their suspension or expulsion reported in the school district's attendance or enrollment data for accreditation calculations. This aims to ensure that disciplinary actions do not negatively impact the district's educational performance metrics.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6914H.01): 160.261