This bill amends several sections of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska related to student discipline in schools, specifically addressing short-term and long-term suspensions. It allows principals to suspend students for up to five school days for conduct that warrants expulsion or other violations of school rules, provided that an investigation is conducted first. New requirements include a written statement to be sent to the student and their guardians within 24 hours of the suspension, detailing the student's conduct, reasons for the suspension, actions taken by the school prior to suspension, available resources, and future plans to address the behavior. Additionally, the principal is required to make a reasonable effort to hold a conference with the student's guardians.

The bill also introduces an exception to the prohibition on suspending students in pre-kindergarten through second grade, allowing suspensions if a student brings a deadly weapon onto school grounds or engages in violent behavior that could harm others. Furthermore, it mandates that written notices for long-term suspensions include information about resources available to assist the student and plans for managing their behavior moving forward. The original sections of the law being amended are repealed as part of this legislative update.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-265, 79-265.01, 79-268