(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Restorative practices" has the meaning stated in § 7-306 of this subtitle. (3) "Restorative Practices School" means a public school that integrates restorative practices into daily practices and activities of the whole school. (b) (1) On or before July 1, 2026, the Department shall develop a comprehensive plan for the establishment of Restorative Practices Schools. (2) In developing a comprehensive plan, the Department shall consult with and seek insight from: (i) Educators and administrators who have effectively established and operated schools that integrate restorative practices into the daily practices and activities of the whole school; and (ii) State and national organizations that have studied the effective use of restorative practices and have established the most appropriate methods of integrating restorative practices in the school setting. (c) The comprehensive plan required under subsection (b) of this section shall: (1) Provide a framework for local school systems to identify school personnel qualified to provide initial restorative practices training as restorative practice coaches to other school staff; (2) Establish model training material in restorative practices for personnel identified under item (1) of this subsection to use in training other school staff in a manner that results in restorative practices being integrated into schoolwide practices and activities; (3) Establish standards for when a school may be designated a Restorative Practices School; and (4) Develop the intended outcomes and performance metrics that the use of restorative practices are designed to achieve, including improvements in the following areas: (i) Student conduct that leads to disciplinary actions, including student office referrals, suspensions, expulsions, and school arrests; (ii) Student absenteeism and truancy; (iii) Rates of teacher turnover and absenteeism; (iv) Relevant mental health indicators; and (v) School climate indicators. (d) If a county board chooses to establish a Restorative Practices School within the local school system, the county board shall use the comprehensive plan developed by the Department.
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