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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-306.1" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="3" subtitle_name="Attendance and Discipline of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Restorative practices” has the meaning stated in § 7–306 of this subtitle.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Restorative Practices School” means a public school that integrates restorative practices into daily practices and activities of the whole school.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On or before July 1, 2026, the Department shall develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of Restorative Practices Schools.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>In developing a comprehensive plan, the Department shall consult with and seek insight from:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Educators and administrators who have effectively established and operated schools that integrate restorative practices into the daily practices and activities of the whole school; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>State and national organizations that have studied the effective use of restorative practices and have established the most appropriate methods of integrating restorative practices in the school setting.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The comprehensive plan required under subsection (b) of this section shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Provide a framework for local school systems to identify school personnel qualified to provide initial restorative practices training as restorative practices coaches to other school staff;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Establish model training material in restorative practices for personnel identified under item (1) of this subsection to use in training other school staff in a manner that results in restorative practices being integrated into schoolwide practices and activities;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Establish standards for when a school may be designated a Restorative Practices School; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Develop the intended outcomes and performance metrics that the use of restorative practices are designed to achieve, including improvements in the following areas:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Student conduct that leads to disciplinary actions, including student office referrals, suspensions, expulsions, and school arrests;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Student absenteeism and truancy;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Rates of teacher turnover and absenteeism;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Relevant mental health indicators; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>School climate indicators.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>If a county board chooses to establish a Restorative Practices School within the local school system, the county board shall use the comprehensive plan developed by the Department.</text>
  </level>
</section>
