Schools may not suspend students or recommend students for dismissal unless the superintendent of the district or the school principal determines the student has committed specified acts and other means of correction have failed to bring about proper conduct. One of the possible means of corrections is participation in a restorative justice program.
This bill encourages school districts that have suspended a student for an incident of racist bullying, harassment, or intimidation, and have implemented other means of correction to have both the victim and perpetrator engage in a restorative justice practice that is found to suit the needs of both the victim and the perpetrator. The bill also encourages districts to regularly check on the victim of the racist bullying, harassment, or intimidation to ensure that the victim is not in danger of suffering from long-lasting mental health issues. In addition, the bill also encourages districts to require perpetrators to engage in culturally sensitive programs that promote racial justice and equity and combat racism and ignorance.
(AB 1165 amends Education Code Section 4900.5.)