MA S359

Amends Section 37H ¾ of Chapter 71 of Massachusetts General Laws to require schools to exhaust alternative remedies before suspending or expelling students, with documented use and results

Alternative remedies must include options such as mediation, conflict resolution, restorative justice, and collaborative problem-solving in direct response to specific incidents

Exceptions allowed only when a student poses documented concern about serious bodily injury to others or has caused significant disruption to the learning environment

Requires school administrators to implement school- or district-wide models including positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) and trauma-sensitive learning models

School-wide models cannot substitute for individualized alternative remedies required in response to specific disciplinary incidents