HB269 Summary

• Establishes definitions for "expulsion" (exclusion for 90-180 school days) and "long-term suspension" (exclusion for 10-90 school days) for disciplinary purposes.

• Prohibits suspension or expulsion of pre-K through fifth grade students except when behavior endangers physical safety or intentional property damage exceeds $1,000, and only as a last resort after other measures exhausted.

• Requires principals to consider student age, disciplinary history, violation seriousness, and whether lesser interventions could address the behavior before recommending disciplinary action.

• Mandates that long-term suspension or expulsion proceedings include written notice, disciplinary hearing before local board or neutral designee, student right to legal counsel, five-day advance access to evidence, witness testimony rights, and a written decision within five school days with appeal rights.

• Directs the State Board of Education to adopt rules addressing factors for determining appropriate discipline, including student intent, culpability, extenuating circumstances, and school environment impact.