Trauma-Informed Schools Act of 2018

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide criteria for use of Federal funds to support trauma-informed practices in schools, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Trauma-Informed Schools Act of 2018 2. Trauma-informed practices (a) Definition Section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7801 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (51) and (52) as paragraphs (52) and (53), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (50) the following: (51) Trauma-informed practices The term trauma-informed practices (A) evidence-based activities that promote a shared understanding among teachers, school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff that traumatic life experiences in the lives of children— (i) are common, yet are often not disclosed or reported; (ii) cause neurological, psychological, and social effects that affect learning, behavior, and relationships; (iii) create risk of further trauma; (iv) do not inherently undermine the capabilities of students to reach high expectations in academics and life; and (v) can and should be mitigated in schools by evidence-based schoolwide approaches; (B) adoption of disciplinary procedures and practices that— (i) accompany disciplinary actions with holistic assessments and interventions to address the underlying causes of student behavior, including trauma; (ii) avoid harsh and punitive, exclusionary disciplinary practices; (iii) utilize evidence-based restorative practices that build a culture of trust; and (iv) do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, English proficiency status, migrant status, or age consistent with the Age Discrimination Act of 1975 ( 42 U.S.C. 6101 42 U.S.C. 2000d 20 U.S.C. 1681 29 U.S.C. 794 42 U.S.C. 12101 42 U.S.C. 1400 (C) activities that promote a culture of acceptance that connects a student to the school community and provides multiple opportunities to practice newly developing skills; (D) activities that promote teamwork, shared staff responsibility, and ongoing, effective communication among teachers, school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff regarding the needs of each individual student enrolled in such school; and (E) activities which provide teachers, school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff with evidence-based professional development on skills including— (i) identifying students who exhibit symptoms commonly associated with trauma; (ii) recognizing and preventing adult implicit bias; (iii) proactively anticipating and adapting to the changing needs of each student who has experienced trauma; (iv) integrating evidence-based practices that build social-emotional skills into rigorous academic instruction; and (v) using evidence-based practices to holistically address the needs of each student who has experienced trauma in a culturally sustaining manner, including by supporting, with respect to each such student, the following: (I) Success in academic and nonacademic areas. (II) Physical, social, and emotional health and well-being. . (b) State plan Section 1111(g)(1)(C) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 6311(g)(1)(C) (1) by striking reducing (2) in clause (i), by inserting reducing incidences (3) in clause (ii)— (A) by inserting reducing the overuse (B) by striking and (4) in clause (iii)— (A) by inserting reducing the use (B) by inserting and safety; (5) by adding at the end the following: (iv) increasing the prevalence of trauma-informed practices; . (c) Plan provisions Section 1112(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6312(b) (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as paragraphs (13) and (14), respectively; and (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following: (12) how the local educational agency will support efforts to increase the prevalence of trauma-informed practices; . (d) Schoolwide program Section 1114(b)(7)(A)(iii) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 6314(b)(7)(A)(iii) (1) in subclause (IV), by striking at the end and (2) by adding at the end the following: (VI) the implementation of trauma-informed practices; and . (e) Training Section 2101 of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 6611 (1) in subsection (c)(4)(B)— (A) by redesignating clauses (xv) through (xxi) as clauses (xvi) through (xxii), respectively; and (B) by inserting after clause (xiv) the following: (xv) Providing training for all teachers, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and specialized instructional support personnel on trauma-informed practices. ; and (2) in subsection (d)(2)— (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (K) through (M) as subparagraphs (L) through (N) respectively; and (B) by inserting after subparagraph (J) the following: (K) A description of how the State educational agency will use funds under this part to increase the prevalence of trauma-informed practices. . (f) Local use of funds Section 2103(b)(3)(I) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 6613(b)(3)(I) (1) by redesignating clauses (i) through (iv) as clauses (ii) through (v); and (2) by inserting before clause (ii), as redesignated, the following: (i) trauma-informed practices; . (g) State activities Section 4104(b)(3)(B)(ii) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 7114(b)(3)(B)(ii) (1) in subclause (I), by striking at the end or (2) in subclause (II), by inserting or (3) by inserting at the end the following: (III) increase the prevalence of trauma-informed practices; . (h) State application Section 4203(a)(6) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 7173(a)(6) development; development, which may include professional development on trauma-informed practices; (i) Description of plan Section 4303(f)(1)(A)(viii) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 7221b(f)(1)(A)(viii) (1) in subclause (I), by striking at the end and (2) in subclause (II), by inserting and (3) by inserting at the end the following: (III) adopting trauma-informed practices. . (j) Application requirements Section 4305(b)(3)(B)(ii) of such Act ( 20 U.S.C. 7221d(b)(3)(B)(ii) (1) in subclause (II), by striking and (2) in subclause (III), by inserting and (3) by inserting at the end the following: (IV) the discipline practices that will be used, including a description of whether such practices are consistent with trauma-informed practices; .

Summary: Trauma-Informed Schools Act of 2018 This bill provides for the use of trauma-informed practices in public elementary and secondary schools and allows states to use certain federal funds to train teachers in such practices.