VA SB 234

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Description

Board of Education; student discipline and codes of student conduct; anti-bullying policies and procedures. Makes several revisions to expand requirements set forth in current law relating to bullying prevention, response, and intervention in public schools. The bill expands requirements relating to parental responsibilities and involvement, including by requiring (i) the Board of Education's standards for school board policies on bullying to emphasize parental responsibility and intervention in preventing and addressing incidents of bullying, (ii) each school board to provide annual training on bullying prevention and intervention for students and parents and workshops for parents and educators relating to bullying prevention and intervention, and (iii) each school principal to request a meeting to discuss parental responsibilities with the parent of any student who violates a school board policy or student code of conduct by engaging in bullying and such student's record evidences a pattern of repeated violations involving engaging in bullying or the principal determines that the severity of the incident requires further intervention.The bill also enhances school responses to and disciplinary consequences for incidents of bullying by requiring (a) the Board to include in its standards for school board policies on bullying procedures for imposing clear and escalating consequences for incidents of bullying based on frequency and severity of violations involving engaging in bullying and (b) each school board to include in its code of student conduct policies and procedures relating to bullying, including procedures for requiring, when appropriate, any student who violates a school board policy by engaging in an act of bullying to receive counseling at the school for the purpose of addressing the behaviors and working on communication and conflict resolution skills designed to prevent recurrence of such behavior. The bill also requires each school board to include in such code of student conduct policies and procedures for protections designed to empower any student who is a victim of bullying or cyberbullying to stand up for himself in an appropriate and safe manner.Finally, the bill requires the Board to include in its guidelines and model policies on codes of student conduct guidance for school boards on effective oversight of public schools to ensure compliance with each school board's code of student policies and procedures.