CA AB1919

State Department of Education must develop evidence-based best practices for restorative justice implementation and make them available on its website by June 1, 2024.

Starting July 1, 2026, school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools must adopt at least one restorative justice best practice developed by the department, contingent on legislative appropriation.

Restorative justice programs are added as an explicit alternative means of correction to pupil suspension, which may include the best practices adopted under this bill.

School districts are now required (instead of authorized) to document alternative means of correction used and place that documentation in a pupil's disciplinary record.

Implementation is contingent on legislative appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute, and the state must reimburse local agencies for any state-mandated costs under existing law procedures.