Amendment #9 to H4879

Requiring Intermediary Steps Before Exclusion

Mr. Ultrino of Malden moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 15 the following section:

"SECTION 15A. Section 37H¾ of said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out paragraph (b) and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

(b) Any principal, headmaster, superintendent or other person acting as a decision-maker at a student meeting or hearing, when deciding the consequences for the student, shall exercise discretion; consider ways to re-engage the student in the learning process; and shall not suspend or expel a student until alternative remedies have been employed and their use and results documented, following and in direct response to a specific incident or incidents, except in cases where the student’s continued presence in school would pose a specific, documentable concern about the infliction of serious bodily injury upon another person while in school. Said remedies may include, but not be limited to: (i) mediation; (ii) conflict resolution; (iii) restorative justice; and (iv) collaborative problem solving. Said principal, headmaster, superintendent or person acting as a decision maker shall also exercise discretion in implementing school- or district-wide models to re-engage students in the learning process, including but not limited to (i) positive behavioral interventions and supports models; (ii) response to intervention models; and (iii) trauma sensitive learning models, provided however that said school- or district-wide models shall not be considered a direct response to a specific incident.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #9, as changed to H4879

Requiring Intermediary Steps Before Exclusion