CO SB029

Creates a School Discipline Task Force in the Department of Education with 18 members, including representatives from school administrators, teachers, charter schools, disability advocates, and three former students with lived experience in school discipline, with members appointed by September 30, 2023.

Task Force must study school district discipline policies, state and local discipline reporting requirements, and local engagement, meeting at least six times between October 15, 2023 and the first 2024 review committee meeting.

Task Force shall submit findings and recommendations by August 1, 2024 addressing disproportionate discipline definitions, standardized discipline data, district profile reports, alternative disciplinary measures, public engagement processes, and alternative approaches to discipline such as positive behavioral interventions.

Finds that suspended and expelled students are 51% more likely to be arrested multiple times than peers, and that for 2018-19 school year Black students were 3.2 times more likely to be suspended than White students while Hispanic students were 1.7 times more likely than White students.

Appropriates $164,398 to the Department of Education for the task force and $1,415 to the legislature; section repeals effective July 1, 2025; requires school districts to "SHALL consider" factors before suspending or expelling students rather than merely being "encouraged to" do so.