DE SB85

Amends Delaware Code Title 14 to clarify teacher and administrator authority over student discipline, defining "disruptive behavior" as conduct that seriously interferes with classroom communication, student learning, or school operations.

Requires local school boards to establish and publish discipline policies specifying circumstances for classroom removal and providing explanations or examples of disruptive behavior.

Mandates annual Department of Education reports on student discipline disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, grade level, English proficiency, disability status, and incident type, posted by October 30 each year.

Identifies schools exceeding suspension thresholds (20 per 100 students in 2018-2019; 15 per 100 thereafter) or showing suspension gaps between racial subgroups or students with disabilities exceeding specified percentages (20% declining to 10% by 2020-2021).

Requires schools meeting thresholds for 3 consecutive years to submit discipline improvement plans by the following school year, which may include professional development in restorative practices, trauma-informed care, implicit bias awareness, and cultural competency.