1 Safe Schools Pilot Project Established.

I. There shall be established the safe schools pilot project within the department of education to develop an evidence-based practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students.

(a) The pilot project shall provide technical assistance, professional development, and training for school staff in evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion that focuses on problem-solving and skill development.

(b) For purposes of the pilot project:

(1) Programs shall have a designation of "evidence-based" provided by a national clearinghouse, such as the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare used by the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Resource Center.

(2) "Evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion" programs shall be problem-solving focused; skill-development focused; collaborative as between educators and students; trauma-informed; proactive; and non-punitive.

(3) "Evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion" shall not include programs that use restraint or seclusion; crisis prevention training; de-escalation training; or behavior management training.

II. The department of education shall administer the pilot project.

(a) The department shall disseminate information about the pilot project to all school districts in the state and shall solicit applications for inclusion in the pilot project. Applications shall be accepted on a rolling basis.

(b) The department shall identify and give priority to applications from the following types of school districts. If possible, the pilot project shall include at least:

(1) Two schools with the highest per capita incidents of restraints and seclusion;

(2) Schools in high density population areas and/or with the highest per capita diversity;

(3) Two schools in suburban areas;

(4) Two schools in rural areas; and

(5) One accredited residential school.

(c) Among the participating school districts, at least one shall be an elementary school; at least 2 shall have a high density of special education students, such as a public alternative school; at least 2 shall be middle schools; and at least 2 shall be high schools.

(d) The pilot project at each school shall last from 3 to 12 months, beginning in January 2026.

III. The pilot project shall include the following reporting requirements:

(a) School districts shall report implementation data and findings to the department every 3 months while participating in the pilot project.

(b) The department shall collaborate with the identified vendor to collect the data from school district participants and analyze outcomes from the pilot project.

(c) Beginning 6 months after the effective date of this section, and every 6 months thereafter for the duration of the project, the department shall provide a report regarding the safe schools pilot project to:

(1) The governor's office;

(2) The senate president and chair of the senate education committee;

(3) The speaker of the house and chair of the house education committee;

(4) The office of the child advocate;

(5) The commissioner of the department of education;

(6) The director of the office of social and emotional wellness in the department of education;

(7) The office of the advocate for special education; and

(8) The oversight commission on children's services established in RSA 21-V:10.

(e) The report shall address the following:

(1) Demographics of schools participating in the pilot project.

(2) Historical data on restraints and seclusion in each participating school to include 5 years of restraint and seclusion data.

(3) Historical data on trainings provided at each participating school in the prior 5 years, relating to restraint or seclusion, crisis prevention, de-escalation training, and behavior management training.

(4) A description of the technical assistance and professional development implemented relating to the evidence-based practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students in each pilot project school.

(5) Outcomes of the pilot project, including but not limited to: teacher engagement; data collected on the use of restraint and seclusion in each school during the pilot project; data collected relating to the use of the evidence-base3 line 7d practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students; and pre- and post-survey data from teachers regarding the pilot project.

(6) Costs and funding options for continued use of the evidence-based practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students and possible expansion to other schools across the state.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Safe Schools Pilot Project Established.

I. There shall be established the safe schools pilot project within the department of education to develop an evidence-based practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students.

(a) The pilot project shall provide technical assistance, professional development, and training for school staff in evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion that focuses on problem-solving and skill development.

(b) For purposes of the pilot project:

(1) Programs shall have a designation of "evidence-based" provided by a national clearinghouse, such as the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare used by the New Hampshire Children's Behavioral Health Resource Center.

(2) "Evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion" programs shall be problem-solving focused; skill-development focused; collaborative as between educators and students; trauma-informed; proactive; and non-punitive.

(3) "Evidence-based alternatives to restraint and seclusion" shall not include programs that use restraint or seclusion; crisis prevention training; de-escalation training; or behavior management training.

II. The department of education shall administer the pilot project.

(a) The department shall disseminate information about the pilot project to all school districts in the state and shall solicit applications for inclusion in the pilot project. Applications shall be accepted on a rolling basis.

(b) The department shall identify and give priority to applications from the following types of school districts. If possible, the pilot project shall include at least:

(1) Two schools with the highest per capita incidents of restraints and seclusion;

(2) Schools in high density population areas and/or with the highest per capita diversity;

(3) Two schools in suburban areas;

(4) Two schools in rural areas; and

(5) One accredited residential school.

(c) Among the participating school districts, at least one shall be an elementary school; at least 2 shall have a high density of special education students, such as a public alternative school; at least 2 shall be middle schools; and at least 2 shall be high schools.

(d) The pilot project at each school shall last from 3 to 12 months, beginning in January 2026.

III. The pilot project shall include the following reporting requirements:

(a) School districts shall report implementation data and findings to the department every 3 months while participating in the pilot project.

(b) The department shall collaborate with the identified vendor to collect the data from school district participants and analyze outcomes from the pilot project.

(c) Beginning 6 months after the effective date of this section, and every 6 months thereafter for the duration of the project, the department shall provide a report regarding the safe schools pilot project to:

(1) The governor's office;

(2) The senate president and chair of the senate education committee;

(3) The speaker of the house and chair of the house education committee;

(4) The office of the child advocate;

(5) The commissioner of the department of education;

(6) The director of the office of social and emotional wellness in the department of education;

(7) The office of the advocate for special education; and

(8) The oversight commission on children's services established in RSA 21-V:10.

(e) The report shall address the following:

(1) Demographics of schools participating in the pilot project.

(2) Historical data on restraints and seclusion in each participating school to include 5 years of restraint and seclusion data.

(3) Historical data on trainings provided at each participating school in the prior 5 years, relating to restraint or seclusion, crisis prevention, de-escalation training, and behavior management training.

(4) A description of the technical assistance and professional development implemented relating to the evidence-based practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students in each pilot project school.

(5) Outcomes of the pilot project, including but not limited to: teacher engagement; data collected on the use of restraint and seclusion in each school during the pilot project; data collected relating to the use of the evidence-base3 line 7d practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students; and pre- and post-survey data from teachers regarding the pilot project.

(6) Costs and funding options for continued use of the evidence-based practice model for alternatives to restraint and seclusion of students and possible expansion to other schools across the state.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.