Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to enhance the safe and supportive schools programming in Minnesota, ensuring a conducive educational environment through specific requirements and strategies.

Main Provisions

• Mandatory Programming: Schools and districts are now required (previously only encouraged) to offer programs that help students identify, prevent, and reduce prohibited conduct such as bullying or harassment.
• Diversity and Conflict Management: The curriculum must include content on valuing diversity, problem-solving, conflict management, civil discourse, and how to recognize and report prohibited behaviors.
• Positive School Climate: Schools must establish strategies using evidence-based social-emotional learning to prevent discrimination and improper conduct.

Strategies for Engagement

• Engage both students and parents, along with the community, to develop effective prevention and intervention programs.
• Train students to intervene in and report incidents of prohibited conduct, helping to create a supportive environment.
• Teach self-advocacy to students, promoting awareness and interventions against improper conduct.
• Ensure inappropriate referrals to special education services for students displaying prohibited conduct are prevented.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The language stipulates a shift from encouraging to mandating schools to implement these updated educational programs and strategies, indicating a stronger legislative push towards creating safe and supportive school environments.

Relevant Terms

safe and supportive schools, prohibited conduct, diversity, conflict management, school climate, social-emotional learning, intervention programs, bystander training, self-advocacy, discrimination prevention.