AN ACT to direct the Department of public instruction to study how parent involvement can reduce recurring student discipline issues.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Department of Public Instruction shall conduct a study to evaluate how certain policies may decrease the rate of recurring disciplinary infractions with a focus on parental involvement. At a minimum, the Department shall study the likely impact of the following:

(1)        Requiring a parent to attend a meeting with the student and school personnel as a condition of a student returning to the classroom after being removed from the classroom for disciplinary reasons.

(2)        Requiring a parent to attend counseling as a condition of a student returning to a classroom after being removed from the classroom for disciplinary reasons, including the availability of resources for the counseling both in and outside of the school.

(3)        Requiring a parent and the student to attend joint counseling as a condition of a student returning to a classroom after being removed from the classroom for disciplinary reasons, including the availability of resources for the counseling both in and outside of the school.

(4)        Requiring a student to attend remote instruction instead of returning to the classroom, and any social or academic impacts that may have.

(5)        Any additional evidence‑based practices that subject matter experts identify to decrease disciplinary infractions.

SECTION 2.  This study shall not include review of any student discipline infractions involving students with an Individualized Education Plan or a 504 Behavioral plan. This study shall not make any recommendations regarding students with an Individualized Education Plan or 504 Behavioral plan.

SECTION 3.  The Department of Public Instruction is authorized to work with a third‑party organization to complete this study.

SECTION 4.  The Department of Public Instruction shall report the results of its study and its recommendations, including any proposed legislative changes, to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee no later than April 15, 2026.

SECTION 5.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) in nonrecurring funds for the 2025‑2026 fiscal year to conduct the study and develop the report required by this act.

SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2025.