SB908: Public schools; student discipline and codes of conduct, etc.

Legislative Summary

Public schools; student discipline and codes of conduct; prevention of and response to cyberbullying; policies and procedures required. Requires the Board of Education to include in its guidelines and model policies for codes of student conduct developed pursuant to applicable law standards for school board policies on cyberbullying, defined in the bill as bullying that occurs through the use of technology, including through cell phones and other electronic devices and technology capable of accessing the Internet. The bill requires each school board to expand on its policies and procedures relating to the prevention and prohibition of bullying that are included in its student conduct policies and procedures pursuant to relevant law by including policies and procedures that (i) address instances of cyberbullying that occur outside of school property between students enrolled in the school division; (ii) provide protections designed to ensure that any student who is a victim of or a witness to an instance of cyberbullying is not deterred from reporting or seeking support for such instance of cyberbullying by fears of retaliation, social alienation or rejection, or other negative treatment; and (iii) include a list of support services and resources available through each public school to any student who is a victim of cyberbullying relating to reporting and seeking support after experiencing an instance of cyberbullying.