Substitute House Bill No. 7276 - Public Act No. 17-220

• Regional educational service centers shall develop uniform regional school calendars that local and regional boards of education may adopt beginning July 1, 2017, rather than making them mandatory.

• Boards of education are no longer required to offer alternative educational opportunities to expelled students under 16 years of age, except when such alternative education or State Board-approved standards-based opportunities are provided.

• The State Board of Education must adopt standards for adequate alternative educational opportunities by August 15, 2017, including instruction type and hours.

• The Department of Education shall survey local and regional boards on their use of digital school management and reporting software and recommend state-wide implementation of uniform software by January 1, 2018.

• Training on physical restraint and seclusion of students shall be provided to crisis intervention team members during the school year commencing July 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, with implementation of prevention and proper restraint training plans required by July 1, 2018.