Trauma-Informed Schools Act of 2019

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 2019 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 professional development that promotes a shared understanding among teachers, teachers assistants, school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff that— (i) traumatic experiences are common among students; (ii) trauma can impact student learning, behavior, and relationships in school; (iii) traumatic experiences do not inherently undermine the capabilities of students to reach high expectations in academics and life; (iv) school-wide learning environments where all students and adults feel safe, welcomed, and supported can enable students to succeed despite traumatic experiences; and (v) services, supports, and programs provided to meet individual student needs should be trauma-informed, where appropriate, and increase student connection to the school-wide learning environment; (B) adoption of disciplinary procedures and practices that— (i) accompany disciplinary actions with holistic assessments and positive behavioral interventions and supports to address the underlying causes of student behavior, including trauma; (ii) avoid harsh, punitive, or 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 engage teachers, teachers assistants, school leaders, paraprofessionals, specialized instructional support personnel, and other staff in a process of school-based planning to— (i) promote a school-wide culture of acceptance; (ii) help all students feel safe and connected to the school community; (iii) support all students to form positive relationships with adults and peers, understand and manage emotions, achieve success academically and in extra-curricular areas, and experience physical and psychological health and well being; (iv) promote teamwork and effective communication among all staff and shared responsibility for every student; (v) integrate evidence-based practices that build social-emotional skills into rigorous academic instruction; and (vi) recognize and prevent adult implicit bias. . (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 2019 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. Trauma-informed practices are defined to include evidence-based professional development that promotes a shared understanding among teachers and other staff that traumatic experiences are common among students and that school-wide learning environments where all students and adults feel safe, welcomed, and supported can enable students to succeed despite such experiences; adoption of disciplinary procedures and practices that utilize evidence-based restorative practices that build a culture of trust; and activities that engage teachers and other staff in a process of school-based planning to help all students feel safe and connected to the school community.