On June 29, 2020, Governor Reynolds signed Senate File 2360, which provides a comprehensive approach to create a safe learning space for students and teachers. This law applies to local school districts, AEAs, and accredited nonpublic schools, and the children these employees serve. 

There are several parts to SF 2360 including:

• developing and distributing evidence-based standards for the response to behavior that presents an imminent threat of bodily injury,
• incentives for school districts to create therapeutic classrooms for students with social-emotional- behavioral health needs,
• requirements for teacher preparation programs that contribute to the education of students with disabilities and students who are gifted and talented,
• school reporting requirements for incidents of violence, assault, and referral to a therapeutic classroom, and
• restrictions and parent notification requirements in the event of a classroom clear.

So what exactly is a classroom clear? A classroom clear is simply clearing all other students out of the classroom in order to calm a child. 

Four Important Points about SF 2360

1. It restricts the use of classroom clears. A classroom clear may only be used to prevent or terminate an imminent threat of bodily injury. Behaviors such as the following do not rise to the level of an imminent threat of bodily injury: serious damage to property, noncompliance, arguing, yelling, refusal, annoying others, blaming, lying, stealing, substance use, transient and unlikely threats.
2. It bans classroom clears in Individual Education Plans/Behavior Intervention Plans. A classroom clear cannot be included in a child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) and/or behavior intervention plan (BIP). In the event that an IEP/BIP contains a classroom clear, the IEP team must hold an annual review or amendment to remove the classroom clear and consider other more appropriate responses to the behaviors of concern.
3. It requires notification of parents when there’s a classroom clear. In the event of a classroom clear, the principal must contact all parents of the children in the class that was cleared. The notification must be within 24 hours of the incident, but preferably by the end of the day. When this happens, you will receive a communication similar to this draft email. 
4. It requires schools to request to meet with parents when their child was involved in an incident giving rise to a classroom clear. In the event that your child was involved in the incident giving rise to the classroom clear, the principal must request that you meet with the school. In the event that your child has an IEP, the school must call an IEP meeting to consider revisions of the IEP and/or BIP.

Due to the confidentiality requirements in the Family Educational and Privacy Act (FERPA), the principal will not be able to share the name or identity of any student(s) involved in an incident giving rise to a classroom clear.