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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-427.1" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Health and Safety 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>“Trauma–informed approach” means a method for understanding and responding to an individual with symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma or traumatic stress.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Trauma–informed school” means a school that:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and understands the potential paths for recovery;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, teachers, and staff;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Integrates information about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Actively resists retraumatizing a student, teacher, or staff member who has experienced trauma.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department, in consultation with the Maryland Department of Health and the Department of Human Services, shall develop guidelines on a trauma–informed approach that will assist schools with:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Implementing a comprehensive trauma–informed policy at the school;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The identification of a student, teacher, or staff member who has experienced trauma;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The appropriate manner for responding to a student, teacher, or staff member who has experienced trauma;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>For schools participating in the Handle With Care program, the appropriate manner for responding to a student who is identified as a “handle with care” student; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>Becoming a trauma–informed school.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Distribute the guidelines developed under this subsection to each local school system; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Publish the guidelines on the trauma–informed approach on the Department’s website.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
