Sample policies created for ‘Every Student Belongs’
Thursday, November 4, 2021
OSBA Policy Services has created sample policies for school districts to be in compliance with “Every Student Belongs.”
School boards that have already created an “Every Student Belongs” policy may need to update it to meet state law. They have until Jan. 1 to pass a new policy or update a previously passed one.
In September 2020, the State Board of Education required every school board to pass a policy by Jan. 1, 2021, that prohibited hate symbols in school and affirmed an education environment free of discrimination or harassment. They must also establish a procedure for addressing bias incidents. The “All Students Belong” administrative rule was later redubbed “Every Student Belongs.”
In May, the Legislature passed House Bill 2697 with the same intent but some small differences in language. On Oct. 21, the State Board of Education updated its rule to align with the statute.
The board’s new rule is almost identical to the Legislature’s statute, according to OSBA Policy Services Director Spencer Lewis. There is some difference on notification requirements in case of an incident, but Lewis said the sample polices meet the requirements of both.
