105 ILCS 5/10-20.14

(105 ILCS 5/10-20.14) (from Ch. 122, par. 10-20.14)

Sec. 10-20.14. Student discipline policies; parent-teacher advisory committee.

(a) To establish and maintain a parent-teacher advisory committee to develop with the school board or governing body of a charter school policy guidelines on student discipline, including school searches and bullying prevention as set forth in Section 27-23.7 of this Code. School authorities shall furnish a copy of the policy to the parents or guardian of each student within 15 days after the beginning of the school year, or within 15 days after starting classes for a student who transfers into the district during the school year, and the school board or governing body of a charter school shall require that a school inform its students of the contents of the policy. School boards and the governing bodies of charter schools, along with the parent-teacher advisory committee, must annually review their student discipline policies and the implementation of those policies and any other factors related to the safety of their schools, students, and school personnel.

(a-5) On or before September 15, 2016, each elementary and secondary school and charter school shall, at a minimum, adopt student discipline policies that fulfill the requirements set forth in this Section, subsections (a) and (b) of Section 10-22.6 of this Code, Section 34-19 of this Code if applicable, and federal and State laws that provide special requirements for the discipline of students with disabilities.

(b) The parent-teacher advisory committee in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies shall develop, with the school board, policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain a reciprocal reporting system between the school district and local law enforcement agencies regarding criminal offenses committed by students. School districts are encouraged to create memoranda of understanding with local law enforcement agencies that clearly define law enforcement's role in schools, in accordance with Section 10-22.6 of this Code. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for the development of reciprocal reporting systems in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.

(c) The parent-teacher advisory committee, in cooperation with school bus personnel, shall develop, with the school board, policy guideline procedures to establish and maintain school bus safety procedures. These procedures shall be incorporated into the district's student discipline policy. In consultation with stakeholders deemed appropriate by the State Board of Education, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for school bus safety procedures in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.

(d) As used in this subsection (d), "evidence-based intervention" means intervention that has demonstrated a statistically significant effect on improving student outcomes as documented in peer-reviewed scholarly journals.

The school board, in consultation with the parent-teacher advisory committee and other community-based organizations, must include provisions in the student discipline policy to address students who have demonstrated behaviors that put them at risk for aggressive behavior, including without limitation bullying, as defined in the policy. These provisions must include procedures for notifying parents or legal guardians and intervention procedures based upon available community-based and district resources.

In consultation with behavioral health experts, the State Board of Education shall draft and publish guidance for evidence-based intervention procedures, including examples, in accordance with this Section on or before July 1, 2025.

(Source: P.A. 103-896, eff. 8-9-24.)