H103 - 2022 Appropriations Act. (SL 2022-74)

Overview: Section 7.7 of S.L. 2022-74 applies the Article on student discipline to all public school units (local school administrative units, charter schools, regional schools, innovative schools, schools for the visually and hearing impaired, and laboratory schools) beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. Additionally, it requires the governing bodies of public school units (governing body) to do the following:

• Beginning July 1, 2023, consult with teachers, school-based administrators, parents, and local law enforcement agencies when adopting policies related to student conduct.
• Beginning July 1, 2023, consider existing federal guidance for the discipline of students with disabilities and guidance on school discipline practices issued by the United States Department of Education when adopting discipline policies.
• Send the most current discipline policies and Code of Student Conduct to the Department of Public Instruction by September 1 annually.
• Publish all policies, administrative procedures, or school rules about student discipline at the beginning of each school year. The information must include the full range of responses to violations of disciplinary rules. The governing body can require students and parents or guardians to sign an acknowledgement that they received a copy of any discipline policies, procedures, or rules.

This section also clarifies that State law does not regulate the discretion of a governing body to devise, impose, and enforce personal appearance codes.

This section became effective July 11, 2022.