Rule requires Georgia schools to train discipline officers

The Georgia Board of Education on Thursday overhauled its policy for student discipline, ordering school districts to offer specific training for personnel involved in tribunals.

A change was mandated by the Georgia General Assembly, which during the recent legislative session passed Senate Bill 367 implementing the recommendations of the Georgia Council on Criminal Justice Reform.

The new rule requires that each school district offer at least five hours of training for hearing officers and members of discipline panels and tribunals. It also requires that future hearing officers be active lawyers or have experience in education and says schools must ensure ongoing training.