H.R. 8526

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8526 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8526

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.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 23, 2024

Ms. Clark of Massachusetts (for herself, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr. Quigley, 
and Ms. Salinas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Trauma-Informed Schools Act of 
2024''.

SEC. 2. TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICES.

(a) Definition.--Section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) is amended--
(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' means--
``(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) adverse and potentially traumatic 
experiences are common among students;
``(ii) trauma can impact student learning, 
behavior, and relationships in school;
``(iii) adverse and potentially 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 adverse and potentially 
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 et 
seq.), title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
(42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.), title IX of the 
Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et 
seq.), section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 
1973 (29 U.S.C. 794), the Americans with 
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
seq.), and the Individuals with Disabilities 
Education Act (42 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.); and
``(C) activities that engage teachers, teachers 
assistants, school leaders, paraprofessionals, 
specialized instructional support personnel, other 
staff, and families 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)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``reducing'';
(2) in clause (i), by inserting ``reducing'' before 
``incidences'';
(3) in clause (ii)--
(A) by inserting ``reducing'' before ``the 
overuse''; and
(B) by striking ``and'';
(4) in clause (iii)--
(A) by inserting ``reducing'' before ``the use''; 
and
(B) by inserting ``and'' after ``safety;''; and
(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)) is amended--
(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)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (IV), by striking at the end ``and''; 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) is 
amended--
(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)) is amended--
(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)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I), by striking at the end ``or'';
(2) in subclause (II), by inserting ``or'' at the end; and
(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)) is amended by striking ``development;'' and inserting 
``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)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (I), by striking at the end ``and'';
(2) in subclause (II), by inserting ``and'' at the end; 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)) is amended--
(1) in subclause (II), by striking ``and'';
(2) in subclause (III), by inserting ``and'' at the end; 
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;''.
<all>