Public Schools - Restorative Practices Schools - Comprehensive Plan

SB 68 requires Maryland's State Department of Education to develop a comprehensive plan by July 1, 2026, for establishing "Restorative Practices Schools" in public schools. The bill defines restorative practices as relationship-focused discipline models that prioritize repairing harm over punishment, prohibits corporal punishment, and mandates county school boards to adopt the plan if they choose to implement such schools. It also requires annual public reporting on discipline data, disaggregated by race, gender, disability status, and socioeconomic factors, to track implementation and outcomes. The law directly affects all Maryland public schools, county boards of education, and students through new discipline policies and reporting requirements.