HB 845 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing for restorative approaches for student discipline.

Bill Text

• Printer's No. PN0821 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill establishes regulations against corporal punishment in public schools and mandates the implementation of restorative approaches for student discipline.

• Section 130

  Restorative Approaches for Student Discipline.--(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, a principal, vice principal or other employe of a public school entity may not administer corporal punishment to discipline a student of the public school entity.

  Prohibits corporal punishment in public schools.

• Section 130

  The department shall: (1) Establish guidelines that define a State code of discipline for public school entities, including: (i) Standards of conduct: (A) that are designed to create and maintain the atmosphere of order and discipline necessary for effective learning; and (B) whose primary purpose emphasizes disciplinary measures that are rehabilitative and educational in nature and that involve a restorative approach.

  Requires the establishment of a state code for discipline focusing on rehabilitation and restorative practices.

• Section 130

  (2) On request, provide technical assistance and training to public school entities on the use of restorative approaches.

  Mandates the provision of training and assistance for implementing restorative approaches.

• Section 130

  (3) Assist public school entities with the implementation of the guidelines under paragraph (1).

  Requires assistance for schools in implementing the new guidelines.

• Section 130

  (4) Collect data on alternative school discipline practices in public school entities, including: (i) The types of alternative school discipline practices that are used. (ii) The type of misconduct for which an alternative school discipline practice is used.

  Establishes a requirement for collecting data on disciplinary practices.

• Section 130

  Each public school entity shall cooperate with the department in providing information under this section.

  Mandates cooperation from public school entities with the department regarding discipline information.

• Section 130

  (1) On or before each October 1, the department shall issue an annual report on student discipline data in public school entities, which includes the following: (i) A description of the disciplinary practices and policies at public school entities. (ii) The use of restorative approaches at public school entities.

  Requires annual reporting on discipline data and restorative approach usage.

• Section 130

  (3) Each annual report shall be posted on the publicly accessible Internet website of the department.

  Mandates that annual reports on discipline be publicly accessible online.

• Section 130

  Restorative approach. As follows: (1) A relationship-focused student discipline model that: (i) is primarily preventive and proactive; (ii) emphasizes building strong relationships and setting clear behavioral expectations that contribute to the well-being of the school community; (iii) is in response to behavior that violates the clear behavioral expectations that contribute to the well-being of the public school entity; (iv) focuses on accountability for any harm done by problem behavior; and (v) addresses ways to repair the relationships affected by problem behavior with the voluntary participation of an individual who was harmed.

  Defines restorative approaches for student discipline.

Action History

1. April 10, 2023

   Referred to Education

Sponsors

• Manuel Guzman · Primary
• Maureen E. Madden · Cosponsor
• Carol Kazeem · Cosponsor
• Carol Hill-Evans · Cosponsor
• Liz Hanbidge · Cosponsor
• Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz · Cosponsor
• Danielle Friel Otten · Cosponsor
• Emily Kinkead · Cosponsor
• Ben Waxman · Cosponsor
• Danilo Burgos · Cosponsor
• Rick Krajewski · Cosponsor
• Kristine C. Howard · Cosponsor
• Justin C. Fleming · Cosponsor
• G. Roni Green · Cosponsor
• Steven R. Malagari · Cosponsor
• Benjamin V. Sanchez · Cosponsor
• Michael H. Schlossberg · Cosponsor
• Sara Innamorato · Cosponsor

Subjects