Protecting our Students in Schools Act of 2020

Short title— This Act may be cited as the “Protecting our Students in Schools Act of 2020”.

Table of contents— The table of contents for this Act are as follows:

eliminate the use of corporal punishment in schools;

ensure, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex, race, color, national origin, disability, or religion, the health and safety of all students and program personnel in schools and promote a positive school climate and culture;

assist States, local educational agencies, and schools in improving school climate and culture by implementing positive behavioral interventions and supports and other models to address student behavior and work to eliminate the use of exclusionary and aversive discipline practices or interventions;

ensure all program personnel have the supports and training necessary to implement positive behavioral interventions and supports and other models to address student behavior and improve school climate and culture; and

collect and analyze data on exclusionary and aversive discipline practices or interventions in schools.

Corporal punishment— The term corporal punishment means, with respect to a student, a deliberate act which causes the student to feel physical pain for the purpose of discipline, including an act of physical force, such as striking, spanking, or paddling, inflicted on a student’s body, requiring a student to assume a painful physical position, or the use of chemical sprays, electroshock weapon, or stun guns on a student’s body.

ESEA terms— The terms elementary school, evidence-based, local educational agency, outlying area, parent, secondary school, Secretary, State, and State educational agency have the meanings given the terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

Model— The term model means an activity, strategy, framework, or intervention that is evidence-based, to the extent practicable.

Program— The term program means all the operations of a local educational agency, system of vocational education, other school system, or private school, any part of which receives Federal financial assistance.

Program personnel— The term program personnel means any agent of a program including an individual who—

Protection and advocacy system— The term protection and advocacy system means a protection and advocacy system established under section 143 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15043).

School resource officer— The term school resource officer means a sworn law enforcement officer who—

School security guard— The term school security guard means a contractor or an employee of a program responsible for addressing one or more of the following safety and crime prevention activities with respect to a program:

Student— The term student means an individual enrolled in a program.