HB 625 Summary

• Revises the definition of "suspension" (out-of-school suspension) to limit it to students who severely threaten general welfare through violence or weapon possession, with suspension not exceeding 10 school days, and requires remanding students to a success center or second chance school.

• Requires each school district to establish a success center for students receiving out-of-school suspension, staffed with instructional personnel and a guidance counselor or social worker, using teaching methods appropriate to student needs.

• Mandates that teachers assigned to success centers possess affective, pedagogical, and content-related skills necessary to meet student needs.

• Requires success centers and dropout prevention programs to coordinate with social service, law enforcement, prosecutorial, and juvenile justice agencies, with authorized information sharing from student and juvenile justice records.

• Authorizes immediate enrollment of students suspended for felony charges in a success center, daytime alternative education program, or evening alternative education program, with educational services continuing during suspension.

• Takes effect July 1, 2016.