(a) On or before June 1, 2024, the department shall develop evidence-based best practices for restorative justice practice implementation on a school campus and make these best practices available on the department’s internet website for use by local educational agencies to implement restorative justice practices as part of efforts to improve campus culture and climate. In developing best practices, the department shall consult with all of the following to identify best practices for effective, evidence-based restorative justice practices in elementary and secondary schools:
(1) School-based restorative justice practitioners.
(2) Educators from public schools serving kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(3) Pupils from public schools serving kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive.
(4) Community partners or community members.
(5) Nonprofit and public entities.
(b) When developing best practices pursuant to subdivision (a), the department is encouraged to, to the extent feasible, take into account resources and best practices that have been identified or developed as part of aligned efforts, including, but not limited to, the Scaling Up MTSS Statewide (SUMS) Initiative, the California Community Schools Partnership Program, and resources developed by the department in support of social-emotional learning.
(c) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 914, Sec. 1. (AB 2598) Effective January 1, 2023.)