Public elementary and secondary schools; student discipline; evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices. Prohibits, except in certain cases involving specific offenses enumerated in applicable law or in cases in which the division superintendent or his designee finds that aggravating circumstances, as defined by the Department of Education, exist, any public elementary or secondary school student from being suspended, expelled, or excluded from attendance at school without first considering at least one evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice such as community conferencing, community service, mentoring, a peer jury, peer mediation, positive behavioral interventions and supports, a restorative circle, or the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports. The bill also requires the Department to add as part of the student behavior and administrative response collection required pursuant to relevant law the use of evidence-based restorative disciplinary practices as a behavioral intervention in order to evaluate the use and effectiveness of such practices. This bill is identical to SB 586.

Statutes affected:
House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24104881D: 22.1-276.01, 22.1-277, 22.1-279.6
House: Committee substitute printed 24106530D-H1: 22.1-276.01, 22.1-277, 22.1-279.6
House: Committee substitute printed 24107237D-H2: 22.1-277
Senate: Committee substitute printed 24108244D-S1: 22.1-276.01, 22.1-277, 22.1-279.6
House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB398ER): 22.1-276.01, 22.1-277, 22.1-279.6