<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-306" 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, “restorative practices” means a communally and culturally responsive, relationship–focused student discipline model that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Is preventive and proactive;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Emphasizes building strong relationships and setting clear behavioral expectations that contribute to the well–being of the school community;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>In response to behavior that violates the clear behavioral expectations that contribute to the well–being of the school community, focuses on accountability for any harm done by the problem behavior; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Addresses ways to repair the relationships affected by the problem behavior with the voluntary participation of an individual who was harmed.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Restorative practices” may include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Conflict resolution;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Mediation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Peer mediation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Circle processes;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Restorative conferences;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>Social emotional learning;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>Trauma–informed care;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>Positive behavioral intervention supports; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>Personal accountability.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Notwithstanding any bylaw, rule, or regulation made or approved by the State Board, a principal, vice principal, or other employee may not administer corporal punishment to discipline a student in a public school in the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The State Board shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Establish guidelines that define a State code of discipline for all public schools with standards of conduct and consequences for violations of the standards;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>On request, provide technical assistance and training to county boards regarding the use of restorative practices, including technical assistance in becoming a Restorative Practices School in accordance with § 7–306.1 of this subtitle; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Assist each county board with the implementation of the guidelines.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section, each county board shall adopt regulations designed to create and maintain within the schools under its jurisdiction the atmosphere of order and discipline necessary for effective learning.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The regulations adopted by a county board under this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Shall provide for educational and behavioral interventions, restorative practices, counseling, and student and parent conferencing;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Shall provide alternative programs, which may include in–school suspension, suspension, expulsion, or other disciplinary measures that are deemed appropriate; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Shall state that the primary purpose of any disciplinary measure is rehabilitative, restorative, and educational.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <text>On or before October 1 each year, the Department shall submit to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly, a student discipline data report that includes a description of the uses of restorative practices in the State and a review of disciplinary practices and policies in the State.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall disaggregate the information in any student discipline data report prepared by the Department by race, ethnicity, gender, disability status, eligibility for free or reduced price meals or an equivalent measure of socioeconomic status, English language proficiency, and type of discipline for:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The State;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Each local school system; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Each public school.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Special education–related data in any report prepared under this subsection shall be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and gender.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this subsection, “alternative school discipline practice” means a discipline practice used in a public school that is not an in–school suspension or an out–of–school suspension.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall collect data on alternative school discipline practices in public schools for each local school system, including:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>The types of alternative school discipline practices that are used in a local school system; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The type of misconduct for which an alternative discipline practice is used.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
