Article II, Section 5, of the Constitution of Puerto Rico guarantees that "[e]very person has the right to an education which shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms."

The Legislature is duty bound to respond with legislation that guarantees the rights and establishes the responsibilities of the components of the school community in order to reduce the problem of violence in the schools. This bill shall create the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities of the School Community for Security in the Schools and sets forth the rights and duties of the school community members in order to maintain a climate of peace in the schools.

This Bill of Rights and Responsibilities integrates the external and surrounding community to the schools, as well as the Commonwealth and municipal government dependencies and the private sector, in seeking to institute various efforts directed toward the reduction of acts of violence within the schools.

(a) To establish and promulgate the General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations and give notice thereof by means of a copy and orientations to the parents and students of the public education system. Said regulations shall be adopted pursuant to §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the "Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico", and shall be filed immediately after approval thereof.

(b) The administrative authorities, as well as the teaching and non-teaching personnel, shall have the duty to ensure compliance with the General Regulations for the Student of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations, especially provisions related to the codes of conduct and behavior.

(c) To establish and promulgate the Crisis Management Strategic Plan for violent incidents in schools to give notice and copy there of to the parents, tutors and students of the Public Education System.

(d) To provide administrative support to achieve compliance with the school security plans established by the student councils. Said school security plans shall include initiatives directed toward:

(e) To redesign those physical facilities whose conditions may influence the development of delinquent or violent activities. The schools should be designed in such a manner so as to prevent the free access of unauthorized persons into the schools and to promote that the school authorities be able to visually supervise student activities in all areas.

(f) The Department of Education shall establish guidelines for the school directors to prepare a report on violent and non-violent incidents within the school premises. Using a standard format, the Director shall gather the information and analyze the data. Subsequently, the Director shall prepare a quarterly report of these findings and submit the same to the School Life Quality Program.

(g) School authorities shall be responsible for coordinating with the Puerto Rico Police the installation of security devices such as video cameras and alarm systems in schools that are declared unsafe by the Department of Education.

(h) The Department of Education shall be responsible for the training of the teaching and administrative personnel on how to manage students with discipline and violence problems. This training shall be based upon conflict management and the early identification of violent situations. The Department of Education is responsible for keeping all its personnel duly informed about the rules for security and violence prevention, so they may know which steps to take in a crisis situation.

(i) The Department of Education shall promote the development of rapid response plans for crisis situations. Among these are plans for evacuation in case of fire, earthquakes, gas leaks and bomb or terrorist threats. Each component of the school system shall clearly understand its role in the crisis plan. The plan shall include a strategy for communicating with security agencies such as the Puerto Rico Police, the Firefighters Corps, Medical Emergencies [Corps.] and the Commonwealth Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Agency. Moreover, a plan shall be established for communicating with the parents and the communications media in case of emergency.

(j) The Department of Education shall ensure compliance with the prevention and orientation programs directed toward the reduction of violent incidents and conflict management in the schools. These training programs shall emphasize problem solving, social interaction, peer pressure management, understanding of values and conflict management skills.

(k) The Department of Education shall use alternative educational environments for those students who have faced school violence problems so as to guarantee a safe school community.

(a) Elected officers are responsible for promoting legislation directed toward the reduction of school violence and the development of safe schools, provided that the resources of the Commonwealth so allow.

(b) Police officers and School Guards I and II shall be responsible for institutional order within one hundred (100) meters surrounding the school premises and in school sponsored activities, in accordance with the regulations established to such effects. It is necessary that these officers develop positive relationships with the components of the school community and exert maximum efforts to achieve a suitable environment for the development of the habit of responsibility and cooperation, and of sound school discipline.

(c) To give conferences and hold assemblies directed toward discussing topics such as school violence prevention, prevention of drug use in the schools, conflict management in the school environment, etc.

(d) Government agencies shall support and actively participate in school activities in order to promote a safe and wholesome environment.

(e) To support research projects directed toward the study of the school violence problem. The information from these research projects may serve as the foundation upon which to generate legislation or initiatives that reduce violence in our schools.

(f) To provide the necessary funds for the implementation of security initiatives in the schools, such as the installation of security devices, programs for monitoring the statistics of criminal and violent incidents in the schools, etc.

(g) To establish interagency collaborative agreements with federal agencies, municipalities and the private sector in order to promote school security.

The Secretary is hereby empowered to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter, including the requirements that must be met by School Security Corps candidates. These rules and regulations shall include the requirement of undergoing Police Academy training for a period of not less than three (3) months, which shall be a part of the trial period of candidates. Such regulations shall conform to the provisions of present §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the "Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico".

In addition to the duties and responsibilities established by regulations, the School Principal shall:

(a) The disciplinary measures taken by the school's administrative personnel must be directed at improving student behavior, thereby creating a school environment that is safe and optimal for learning and improving a student's academic performance. The disciplinary process shall be preventive, progressive, just, and reasonable for rehabilitation and re-education purposes, while upholding the rights of the school community in general. For such purposes, if a student undergoes a disciplinary process or an evaluation by a psychologist or a counselor, said process shall be completed within fifteen (15) days from the commencement thereof.

(b) The strategies used to address disciplinary issues or toxic conduct must be directed at repairing the damage done and restoring the respect and peaceful coexistence that must prevail in the school community and, specifically, to reintegrate students into the school community.

(c) Teachers shall be responsible for the school's discipline, both inside and outside of the classrooms, thereby ensuring that students satisfy this requirement. They shall refer disciplinary issues to the School Principal after having exhausted all resources available to them, such as, but not limited to: restorative measures, mediation, interviews, and meetings with the student, his guardian, or the interdisciplinary team, or referring the student to the homeroom teacher, the school's social worker, or a professional counselor, among others.

(d) Before imposing any sanction or taking any disciplinary action, all intervention and counseling resources available to students, parents, custodians, or guardians must be exhausted. These measures must be documented and filed in the student's record. Moreover, the student subject to the disciplinary measures and the affected party shall always be afforded an opportunity to express themselves and be heard in an orderly, timely, and respectful manner.

(e) An out-of-school suspension is an exclusionary discipline practice that should only be implemented under special circumstances and only when the well- being of the students or the school's community is at risk. Under any other circumstances, school principals shall implement practices that are not exclusionary, such as mediation and restorative practices, among others.

(f) The Secretary shall promulgate school discipline regulations in order to ensure that the works of the Public Education System remain uninterrupted, and each Regional Office of Education shall implement the disciplinary practices that are best suited to the particular needs of their students, pursuant to the aforementioned regulations. Such regulations shall be consistent with the applicable laws in our jurisdiction related to minors.

(g) Each Regional Office of Education shall submit a copy of the proposed code of conduct to the personnel of the central offices of the Department, before June 1st of each year, for the review and authorization thereof. The codes of conduct shall not be valid or effective insofar as the aforementioned process has been carried out and the approval thereof has been notified in writing to the Regional Office of Education.

(h) No student shall be prevented from exercising his right to an education. No corrective measures that harm a student's physical integrity or violates his dignity may be imposed.

(i) The disciplinary measures imposed shall be proportional to the offense and must contribute to improving the student's conduct.

(j) The student's personal, family, and social circumstances shall be taken into consideration before choosing the appropriate disciplinary measure.

1. A committee will be appointed to support the Central level, a Council Support in school districts, and a School Safety Committee in schools, as stated in the Manual for School Safety Support.

2. The primary mission of these committees will be to implement an effective prevention plan to promote a safe environment conducive to learning. If requested by the school community the committees will offer seminars, workshops and other activities related to the prevention and processes, and laws that are carried out for decisions of disciplinary cases.

3. The school principal is responsible for recommending a School Safety Committee composed of school staff that supports students, one (1) student guardian, volunteer teachers with a maximum of three (3), security personnel, and one (1) student. This committee will work with the School Board.

4. The School Safety Committee will be chaired by the Principal, who will call a meeting when necessary.

5. The School Safety Committee will assist in prevention efforts and order, pursuant to the provisions for the purpose established by the Department of Education.

(a) The disciplinary measures taken by the school's administrative personnel must be directed at improving student behavior, thereby creating a school environment that is safe and optimal for learning and improving a student's academic performance. The disciplinary process shall be preventive, progressive, just, and reasonable for rehabilitation and re-education purposes, while upholding the rights of the school community in general. For such purposes, if a student undergoes a disciplinary process or an evaluation by a psychologist or a counselor, said process shall be completed within fifteen (15) days from the commencement thereof.

(b) The strategies used to address disciplinary issues or toxic conduct must be directed at repairing the damage done and restoring the respect and peaceful coexistence that must prevail in the school community and, specifically, to reintegrate students into the school community.

(c) Teachers shall be responsible for the school's discipline, both inside and outside of the classrooms, thereby ensuring that students satisfy this requirement. They shall refer disciplinary issues to the School Principal after having exhausted all resources available to them, such as, but not limited to: restorative measures, mediation, interviews, and meetings with the student, his guardian, or the interdisciplinary team, or referring the student to the homeroom teacher, the school's social worker, or a professional counselor, among others.

(d) Before imposing any sanction or taking any disciplinary action, all intervention and counseling resources available to students, parents, custodians, or guardians must be exhausted. These measures must be documented and filed in the student's record. Moreover, the student subject to the disciplinary measures and the affected party shall always be afforded an opportunity to express themselves and be heard in an orderly, timely, and respectful manner.

1. Members of the school community and public order officers will be responsible for institutional order on school grounds, within one hundred (100) meters of the school, and in activities organized by the school, as established by this regulation. They will assure the development of the best relationships in the school and will make the maximum effort to create an environment favorable to the development of responsibility, cooperation, and good school discipline.

Every student in the public education system has the right to:

All parents with children in the Public Education System have the right to:

All non-teaching personnel working in a public system educational institution shall have the right to:

(a) To establish and promulgate the General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations and give notice thereof by means of a copy and orientations to the parents and students of the public education system. Said regulations shall be adopted pursuant to §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the "Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico", and shall be filed immediately after approval thereof.

(b) The administrative authorities, as well as the teaching and non-teaching personnel, shall have the duty to ensure compliance with the General Regulations for the Student of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations, especially provisions related to the codes of conduct and behavior.

(c) To establish and promulgate the Crisis Management Strategic Plan for violent incidents in schools to give notice and copy there of to the parents, tutors and students of the Public Education System.

(d) To provide administrative support to achieve compliance with the school security plans established by the student councils. Said school security plans shall include initiatives directed toward:

(e) To redesign those physical facilities whose conditions may influence the development of delinquent or violent activities. The schools should be designed in such a manner so as to prevent the free access of unauthorized persons into the schools and to promote that the school authorities be able to visually supervise student activities in all areas.

(f) The Department of Education shall establish guidelines for the school directors to prepare a report on violent and non-violent incidents within the school premises. Using a standard format, the Director shall gather the information and analyze the data. Subsequently, the Director shall prepare a quarterly report of these findings and submit the same to the School Life Quality Program.

(g) School authorities shall be responsible for coordinating with the Puerto Rico Police the installation of security devices such as video cameras and alarm systems in schools that are declared unsafe by the Department of Education.

(h) The Department of Education shall be responsible for the training of the teaching and administrative personnel on how to manage students with discipline and violence problems. This training shall be based upon conflict management and the early identification of violent situations. The Department of Education is responsible for keeping all its personnel duly informed about the rules for security and violence prevention, so they may know which steps to take in a crisis situation.

(i) The Department of Education shall promote the development of rapid response plans for crisis situations. Among these are plans for evacuation in case of fire, earthquakes, gas leaks and bomb or terrorist threats. Each component of the school system shall clearly understand its role in the crisis plan. The plan shall include a strategy for communicating with security agencies such as the Puerto Rico Police, the Firefighters Corps, Medical Emergencies [Corps.] and the Commonwealth Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Agency. Moreover, a plan shall be established for communicating with the parents and the communications media in case of emergency.

(j) The Department of Education shall ensure compliance with the prevention and orientation programs directed toward the reduction of violent incidents and conflict management in the schools. These training programs shall emphasize problem solving, social interaction, peer pressure management, understanding of values and conflict management skills.

(k) The Department of Education shall use alternative educational environments for those students who have faced school violence problems so as to guarantee a safe school community.

The Department of Education in coordination with the Youth Affairs Office shall establish the mechanisms and systems for the publication, education, and general dissemination of the Student Bill of Rights established in this chapter. Within thirty (30) days as of the approval of this act, the Department of Education shall notify the existence thereof in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation for three (3) consecutive days. Moreover, it shall publish the complete text on the Department of Education' website. Public schools shall keep a copy of the Student Bill of Rights in a visible and accessible place for students, teachers, parents, and teaching personnel. The Department of Education shall not tolerate any restriction or limitation of the student rights set forth in this Act; said rights shall not restrict or exclude any other right granted by the code of laws.

B. At the beginning of each school year, the student and his guardian, in the case of students under twenty-one (21) years of age and not emancipated, will sign a document in which they agree to comply with the rules laid down in this Regulation. Students over 21 years of age will sign the document themselves.

(a) The disciplinary measures taken by the school's administrative personnel must be directed at improving student behavior, thereby creating a school environment that is safe and optimal for learning and improving a student's academic performance. The disciplinary process shall be preventive, progressive, just, and reasonable for rehabilitation and re-education purposes, while upholding the rights of the school community in general. For such purposes, if a student undergoes a disciplinary process or an evaluation by a psychologist or a counselor, said process shall be completed within fifteen (15) days from the commencement thereof.

(b) The strategies used to address disciplinary issues or toxic conduct must be directed at repairing the damage done and restoring the respect and peaceful coexistence that must prevail in the school community and, specifically, to reintegrate students into the school community.

(c) Teachers shall be responsible for the school's discipline, both inside and outside of the classrooms, thereby ensuring that students satisfy this requirement. They shall refer disciplinary issues to the School Principal after having exhausted all resources available to them, such as, but not limited to: restorative measures, mediation, interviews, and meetings with the student, his guardian, or the interdisciplinary team, or referring the student to the homeroom teacher, the school's social worker, or a professional counselor, among others.

(d) Before imposing any sanction or taking any disciplinary action, all intervention and counseling resources available to students, parents, custodians, or guardians must be exhausted. These measures must be documented and filed in the student's record. Moreover, the student subject to the disciplinary measures and the affected party shall always be afforded an opportunity to express themselves and be heard in an orderly, timely, and respectful manner.

(e) An out-of-school suspension is an exclusionary discipline practice that should only be implemented under special circumstances and only when the well- being of the students or the school's community is at risk. Under any other circumstances, school principals shall implement practices that are not exclusionary, such as mediation and restorative practices, among others.

(f) The Secretary shall promulgate school discipline regulations in order to ensure that the works of the Public Education System remain uninterrupted, and each Regional Office of Education shall implement the disciplinary practices that are best suited to the particular needs of their students, pursuant to the aforementioned regulations. Such regulations shall be consistent with the applicable laws in our jurisdiction related to minors.

(g) Each Regional Office of Education shall submit a copy of the proposed code of conduct to the personnel of the central offices of the Department, before June 1st of each year, for the review and authorization thereof. The codes of conduct shall not be valid or effective insofar as the aforementioned process has been carried out and the approval thereof has been notified in writing to the Regional Office of Education.

(h) No student shall be prevented from exercising his right to an education. No corrective measures that harm a student's physical integrity or violates his dignity may be imposed.

(i) The disciplinary measures imposed shall be proportional to the offense and must contribute to improving the student's conduct.

(j) The student's personal, family, and social circumstances shall be taken into consideration before choosing the appropriate disciplinary measure.

(a) The disciplinary measures taken by the school's administrative personnel must be directed at improving student behavior, thereby creating a school environment that is safe and optimal for learning and improving a student's academic performance. The disciplinary process shall be preventive, progressive, just, and reasonable for rehabilitation and re-education purposes, while upholding the rights of the school community in general. For such purposes, if a student undergoes a disciplinary process or an evaluation by a psychologist or a counselor, said process shall be completed within fifteen (15) days from the commencement thereof.

(b) The strategies used to address disciplinary issues or toxic conduct must be directed at repairing the damage done and restoring the respect and peaceful coexistence that must prevail in the school community and, specifically, to reintegrate students into the school community.

(c) Teachers shall be responsible for the school's discipline, both inside and outside of the classrooms, thereby ensuring that students satisfy this requirement. They shall refer disciplinary issues to the School Principal after having exhausted all resources available to them, such as, but not limited to: restorative measures, mediation, interviews, and meetings with the student, his guardian, or the interdisciplinary team, or referring the student to the homeroom teacher, the school's social worker, or a professional counselor, among others.

(d) Before imposing any sanction or taking any disciplinary action, all intervention and counseling resources available to students, parents, custodians, or guardians must be exhausted. These measures must be documented and filed in the student's record. Moreover, the student subject to the disciplinary measures and the affected party shall always be afforded an opportunity to express themselves and be heard in an orderly, timely, and respectful manner.

(e) An out-of-school suspension is an exclusionary discipline practice that should only be implemented under special circumstances and only when the well- being of the students or the school's community is at risk. Under any other circumstances, school principals shall implement practices that are not exclusionary, such as mediation and restorative practices, among others.

(f) The Secretary shall promulgate school discipline regulations in order to ensure that the works of the Public Education System remain uninterrupted, and each Regional Office of Education shall implement the disciplinary practices that are best suited to the particular needs of their students, pursuant to the aforementioned regulations. Such regulations shall be consistent with the applicable laws in our jurisdiction related to minors.

(g) Each Regional Office of Education shall submit a copy of the proposed code of conduct to the personnel of the central offices of the Department, before June 1st of each year, for the review and authorization thereof. The codes of conduct shall not be valid or effective insofar as the aforementioned process has been carried out and the approval thereof has been notified in writing to the Regional Office of Education.

(h) No student shall be prevented from exercising his right to an education. No corrective measures that harm a student's physical integrity or violates his dignity may be imposed.

(i) The disciplinary measures imposed shall be proportional to the offense and must contribute to improving the student's conduct.

(j) The student's personal, family, and social circumstances shall be taken into consideration before choosing the appropriate disciplinary measure.

(a) The disciplinary measures taken by the school's administrative personnel must be directed at improving student behavior, thereby creating a school environment that is safe and optimal for learning and improving a student's academic performance. The disciplinary process shall be preventive, progressive, just, and reasonable for rehabilitation and re-education purposes, while upholding the rights of the school community in general. For such purposes, if a student undergoes a disciplinary process or an evaluation by a psychologist or a counselor, said process shall be completed within fifteen (15) days from the commencement thereof.

(b) The strategies used to address disciplinary issues or toxic conduct must be directed at repairing the damage done and restoring the respect and peaceful coexistence that must prevail in the school community and, specifically, to reintegrate students into the school community.

(c) Teachers shall be responsible for the school's discipline, both inside and outside of the classrooms, thereby ensuring that students satisfy this requirement. They shall refer disciplinary issues to the School Principal after having exhausted all resources available to them, such as, but not limited to: restorative measures, mediation, interviews, and meetings with the student, his guardian, or the interdisciplinary team, or referring the student to the homeroom teacher, the school's social worker, or a professional counselor, among others.

(d) Before imposing any sanction or taking any disciplinary action, all intervention and counseling resources available to students, parents, custodians, or guardians must be exhausted. These measures must be documented and filed in the student's record. Moreover, the student subject to the disciplinary measures and the affected party shall always be afforded an opportunity to express themselves and be heard in an orderly, timely, and respectful manner.

(e) An out-of-school suspension is an exclusionary discipline practice that should only be implemented under special circumstances and only when the well- being of the students or the school's community is at risk. Under any other circumstances, school principals shall implement practices that are not exclusionary, such as mediation and restorative practices, among others.

(f) The Secretary shall promulgate school discipline regulations in order to ensure that the works of the Public Education System remain uninterrupted, and each Regional Office of Education shall implement the disciplinary practices that are best suited to the particular needs of their students, pursuant to the aforementioned regulations. Such regulations shall be consistent with the applicable laws in our jurisdiction related to minors.

(g) Each Regional Office of Education shall submit a copy of the proposed code of conduct to the personnel of the central offices of the Department, before June 1st of each year, for the review and authorization thereof. The codes of conduct shall not be valid or effective insofar as the aforementioned process has been carried out and the approval thereof has been notified in writing to the Regional Office of Education.

(h) No student shall be prevented from exercising his right to an education. No corrective measures that harm a student's physical integrity or violates his dignity may be imposed.

(i) The disciplinary measures imposed shall be proportional to the offense and must contribute to improving the student's conduct.

(j) The student's personal, family, and social circumstances shall be taken into consideration before choosing the appropriate disciplinary measure.

5. The educational process prefers persuasion, encouragement and positive motivation before going to the disciplinary process.

4. Corrective Plans and Special Conditions

1. Concepts

The minor will be protected against unreasonable searches, attachments and seizures. A judicial warrant authorizing a search and seizure against a minor shall only be issued when there is probable cause based on a sworn statement or declaration and specifically stating the person or place to be searched and the things to be seized.

Will be carried out as a measure to guarantee a safe environment in our school campuses. These can not be performed randomly. As the authorized officials must strictly follow the procedures laid out in the present Article, to guarantee the reasonableness thereof to perform the interventions with the students.

This chapter shall be known as the "Puerto Rico Minors’ Act." Its provisions shall be applicable with preference over other laws, and in case of conflict, the special principles of this chapter shall prevail.

The words and phrases used in this chapter shall mean:

2.b.1) Concepts

3.a) Corrective or Disciplinary Methods for Informal Complaints

The Principal shall have power to impose the following corrective or disciplinary measures:

3.b) Corrective or Disciplinary Methods for Formal Complaints

The Secretary of Education, or his authorized representative, shall have power to impose any disciplinary or corrective measures for which the Principal is authorized, plus those described below:

5.a.3. Misbehavior Against Institutional Order

5.a.5. Corporal Offense

(a) The disciplinary measures taken by the school's administrative personnel must be directed at improving student behavior, thereby creating a school environment that is safe and optimal for learning and improving a student's academic performance. The disciplinary process shall be preventive, progressive, just, and reasonable for rehabilitation and re-education purposes, while upholding the rights of the school community in general. For such purposes, if a student undergoes a disciplinary process or an evaluation by a psychologist or a counselor, said process shall be completed within fifteen (15) days from the commencement thereof.

(b) The strategies used to address disciplinary issues or toxic conduct must be directed at repairing the damage done and restoring the respect and peaceful coexistence that must prevail in the school community and, specifically, to reintegrate students into the school community.

(c) Teachers shall be responsible for the school's discipline, both inside and outside of the classrooms, thereby ensuring that students satisfy this requirement. They shall refer disciplinary issues to the School Principal after having exhausted all resources available to them, such as, but not limited to: restorative measures, mediation, interviews, and meetings with the student, his guardian, or the interdisciplinary team, or referring the student to the homeroom teacher, the school's social worker, or a professional counselor, among others.

(d) Before imposing any sanction or taking any disciplinary action, all intervention and counseling resources available to students, parents, custodians, or guardians must be exhausted. These measures must be documented and filed in the student's record. Moreover, the student subject to the disciplinary measures and the affected party shall always be afforded an opportunity to express themselves and be heard in an orderly, timely, and respectful manner.

(e) An out-of-school suspension is an exclusionary discipline practice that should only be implemented under special circumstances and only when the well- being of the students or the school's community is at risk. Under any other circumstances, school principals shall implement practices that are not exclusionary, such as mediation and restorative practices, among others.

(f) The Secretary shall promulgate school discipline regulations in order to ensure that the works of the Public Education System remain uninterrupted, and each Regional Office of Education shall implement the disciplinary practices that are best suited to the particular needs of their students, pursuant to the aforementioned regulations. Such regulations shall be consistent with the applicable laws in our jurisdiction related to minors.

(g) Each Regional Office of Education shall submit a copy of the proposed code of conduct to the personnel of the central offices of the Department, before June 1st of each year, for the review and authorization thereof. The codes of conduct shall not be valid or effective insofar as the aforementioned process has been carried out and the approval thereof has been notified in writing to the Regional Office of Education.

(h) No student shall be prevented from exercising his right to an education. No corrective measures that harm a student's physical integrity or violates his dignity may be imposed.

(i) The disciplinary measures imposed shall be proportional to the offense and must contribute to improving the student's conduct.

(j) The student's personal, family, and social circumstances shall be taken into consideration before choosing the appropriate disciplinary measure.

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

2) Provisional Methods that May be Utilized Before Imposing Disciplinary Methods

3) Corrective or Disciplinary Methods

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

(13) Disciplinary actions.- The student shall have the right of due process in any disciplinary procedure. Disciplinary actions shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Education's General Student Regulations in effect. As part of the due process of law, students shall be granted the following rights:

(14) Every student shall have the right to receive an education of excellence.

(15) Every student shall have the right to be considered an active learner and capable of social interaction within his social environment.

(16) Every student shall have the right to be heard and to have his opinions fully respected; he shall also have the obligation to hear and respect the opinion of others.

Through the Office of the Secretary, the Department shall offer educational and support services to the regular adult population and to the at-risk children and youth population.

It shall offer innovative programs during regular and extended hours, to develop various academic and social skills. These offerings shall reflect the demands of the labor market, including the importance of English language proficiency at a conversational level, and shall be aligned with the needs of today's Puerto Rico.

For such purposes, the Department shall continue to offer educational services to the at-risk children and youth population through specific service centers such as the Alianza para la Educación Alternativa, Centros de Servicios de Apoyo Sustentable al Alumno, better known as "Proyecto C.A.S.A.," among others.

These alternative schools shall have the following standards:

(k) The Department of Education shall use alternative educational environments for those students who have faced school violence problems so as to guarantee a safe school community.

The Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico recognizes the pressing need to encourage the support for successful alternative education models in order to address, in an integrated manner, the unique cognitive, academic, biopsychosocial, vocational, and entrepreneurial needs of the population of school dropouts and at-risk children or youths.

The goal of alternative education is to develop enterprising and productive citizens with high academic, community, and leadership competencies who are committed to their personal development as well as that of their family and community setting.

Based on the foregoing, this Legislative Assembly hereby resolves and declares that alternative education is governed in Puerto Rico by the following principles:

Likewise, and considering that the traditional academic curriculums are not governed by inflexible parameters that prevent what should be their natural evolution, our aim is that, when the time comes, the alternative model may be transformed so as to embrace, support, and integrally fulfill the unique interests and needs of gifted students in Puerto Rico. This could be achieved by creating education centers specifically geared to this population, or by entering into collaboration agreements between existing institutions and other entities with the expertise and proven experience working with this population. We believe that this shall be the next logical step to be taken once this education model has proven its reliability.

This chapter has the following objectives:

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning stated hereinbelow:

For the purpose of implementing the public policy on alternative education in Puerto Rico, and to guarantee a high-quality level as well as the promotion thereof, alternative education entities shall have the following functions:

The Department of Education shall have the following functions and powers:

Beginning Fiscal Year 2012-2013, twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) shall be annually appropriated to the Alternative Education Partnership, Inc. to attain the purposes of this chapter. The Partnership shall use a portion of this budget for professional development programs for its teaching personnel, and the establishment of student information systems, pursuant to the provisions of § 3815 of this title. Any surplus in the appropriated budget may be used in subsequent fiscal years for purposes related to this chapter.

This shall be a recurring appropriation to the Partnership and the Department of Education shall be the custodian agency thereof. This entails that the funds shall be received by the Department of Education to be allocated semiannually to the Alternative Education Partnership, Inc., upon the filing of the financial statements referred to in § 3817(c) of this title.

Furthermore, the sum of seven million dollars ($7,000,000) shall be annually appropriated in the budget of the Department of Education for the operation of C.A.S.A Project. Any surplus in the appropriated budget may be used in subsequent fiscal years for purposes related to this chapter.

The Department of the Treasury shall deduct one percent (1%) from the budget appropriated under this chapter to the Alternative Education Partnership, Inc. and C.A.S.A Project, and shall remit it to the Puerto Rico Education Council to defray the operating expenses of the Alternative Education Commission.

The funds provided by this chapter shall be used by participating alternative education entities for the following:

The alternative education entities shall submit annual reports to the Alternative Education Commission, which, in turn, shall draft another annual report with the information received, to be submitted to the Governor and the Legislative Assembly of Puerto Rico, on the transactions carried out and the manner in which the funds provided for herein have been used. Once the Commission has been constituted, it shall require alternative education entities to file a first report. After filing the first report, said entities shall file an annual report on or before September 30 of each year.

The Commission may require alternative education entities to file any other special report, provided it is requested fifteen (15) days in advance.

2.b.1) Concepts

3.a) Corrective or Disciplinary Methods for Informal Complaints

The Principal shall have power to impose the following corrective or disciplinary measures:

3.b) Corrective or Disciplinary Methods for Formal Complaints

The Secretary of Education, or his authorized representative, shall have power to impose any disciplinary or corrective measures for which the Principal is authorized, plus those described below:

5.a.3. Misbehavior Against Institutional Order

5.a.5. Corporal Offense

(a) The Secretary shall be responsible for the effective and efficient administration of the Public Education System in accordance with the law, the duly-established education policy, and the public policy adopted by the Legislative Assembly and the Governor, in order to achieve the purposes set forth in the Constitution of Puerto Rico and in this chapter for the Public Education System.

(b) The Secretary shall:

Any student who introduces, distributes, gifts, sells, or possesses any type of firearm or controlled substance, classified as such in §§ 2101 et seq. of this Title 24, known as the "Controlled Substances Act of Puerto Rico", within the school or its surroundings, shall be suspended by the Secretary for a period not to exceed one (1) year according to the particular circumstances of each case and the procedures prescribed by regulations. For purposes of this section, "any type of weapon" shall include all the weapons included in §§ 455 et seq. of Title 25, known as the "Puerto Rico Weapons Act", or any other successor and/or federal law.

"School surroundings" shall be understood as a perimeter of one hundred (100) meters measured from the school premises as these are delimited by a fence or any other boundary marking. The Department, in conjunction with the concerned government agencies, shall provide the suspended student with alternative education options for the duration of the suspension and, once the suspension has ended, shall place the student in the appropriate level and grade. The legal provisions in effect in our code of laws shall be applied if necessary.

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

Will be carried out as a measure to guarantee a safe environment in our school campuses. These can not be performed randomly. As the authorized officials must strictly follow the procedures laid out in the present Article, to guarantee the reasonableness thereof to perform the interventions with the students. […]

2. Procedure

The authorized officials may search a student or a group of students and may consequently keep the obtained evidence, under any of the following circumstances:

5.a.3) Offenses Against the Institutional Order .

(a) School attendance shall be compulsory for students between the ages of five (5) and (18), except for: students participating in an elementary or secondary alternative education program or its equivalent; students enrolled in a high school equivalency program for adults or other programs that prepare students to be readmitted to a regular school; or students who have taken the GED test.

(b) Public school students are hereby prohibited from leaving the school grounds during school hours or during any recess. The School Principal and the student's teacher shall be jointly accountable for unexcused absences of said nature and their evaluations shall state so if they fail to prove that clear and convincing efforts were taken to prevent such absences. It is hereby provided that the Secretary shall be required to prescribe by regulations to such effect, the procedure to authorize students to leave the school grounds during school hours. Such regulations shall contain, at least, one provision regarding the express authorization of a parent, guardian, or custodian.

(c) Any student's parent, guardian, or custodian who encourages, entices, or allows such student to be absent from school for a period equal to or greater than three (3) consecutive days without just cause, or who fails to meet his responsibility of causing the child to attend school, and after receiving a notice of non-compliance, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or a minimum period of one hundred (100) hours of community service at the institution the student for whom he is responsible attends, or both penalties at the discretion of the court. Said person shall also be guilty of a civil infraction that may entail the cancellation of benefits under the Nutrition Assistance Program, the Public Housing Program, and the Affordable Housing Program. Each school shall develop a strategic plan to prevent student's excessive absences from the classroom.

(d) All students shall be enrolled in an educational program until they finish high school or its equivalent. Every student's parent, guardian, or custodian shall be responsible for the student's compulsory school attendance, as provided in this section.

(e) The Secretary, in conjunction with Regional Superintendents and school principals, shall establish the methods or procedures to be used by Regional Offices of Education to implement the provisions regarding student's compulsory school attendance, through regulations that shall include, among others, the following:

(f) At the end of each semester, the Secretary shall submit a "Report on School Dropout in Puerto Rico". The information therein shall be presented in a manner that is clear and easy to understand for the general public. Said report shall be submitted to the Governor, the Legislative Assembly through the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, and the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics. In addition, the report shall be available on the Department's website. The same shall include, but shall not be limited to, the total dropout rates by grade level for every education region and for each school; the High School Equivalency Test pass rate; data on transfers, expulsions, suspensions, and absenteeism; and any other pertinent information in connection with the academic progress of students. Furthermore, the Secretary shall make available on the Department's website every month, each school's attendance report, which shall be reported in accordance with regulations.

(g) The Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics is hereby designated as the authorized representative of the Department for the purpose of sharing students' information with the Institute, safeguarding the confidentiality rights of students pursuant to § 9801d of this title.

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

(1) Observe the laws, regulations, circular letters, rules, instructions, and directives issued by academic authorities.

(2) Be punctual and attend school regularly as well as behave appropriately during school hours, recess, and other school activities, whether they are held inside or outside the school.

(3) Preserve, take care of, protect, and avoid damaging public property, equipment, books, or school supplies.

(4) To refrain from interrupting class.

(5) To refrain from coercing other students into participating in a particular mode of expression, or from violating the right of other students to dissent from their points of view.

(6) Parents or guardians shall be responsible for the punctuality and regular school attendance of their unemancipated minors, and for notifying school authorities of the existence of any circumstance that warrants their absence.

(7) Parents or guardians shall be responsible for repairing any damages caused by their unemancipated minors to public property, equipment, or school supplies. In the case of a student who is of legal age or emancipated, he shall personally assume responsibility for the damages caused.

(8) Parents or guardians of a minor shall be responsible for updating their contact information in the event that school authorities should need to contact them. This information shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the parent's home and/or work address; the home, work, or cell phone number of both parents, and contact information of a relative or person trusted by the parents, in the event that parents cannot be immediately contacted during an emergency. This information shall be kept in a safe place and shall only be accessed by the school principal, his secretary, the school guidance counselor, or the school social worker.

(9) If a student is absent for more than three (3) consecutive days without any justification whatsoever, it shall be the responsibility of the school authorities to contact the parents or guardians of said student to determine the cause of said absences.

(10) The duties and responsibilities set forth in this Section shall not be construed as limiting or excluding any other right, duty, or responsibility that the school may grant or require of students.

Will be carried out as a measure to guarantee a safe environment in our school campuses. These can not be performed randomly. As the authorized officials must strictly follow the procedures laid out in the present Article, to guarantee the reasonableness thereof to perform the interventions with the students.

1. Authorized officials

1. Concepts

For the purposes of this regulation, the following terms and phrases shall have the definitions set forth below:

1. Teachers will follow the guidelines provided in Circular Letter 16-2013-2014, or the current circular letter, that establishes the procedure to be followed in implementing school retention norms of the Department of Education.

2. The school principal shall require teachers to keep a daily record of the students enrolled in the course and supervise the maintenance of this daily record of student attendance.

3. Next, the actions to follow according to the pattern of unjustified absences by the student.

4. In the case that the school doesn’t have support staff assigned, in line with the steps set out in the table above and according to the number of absences by the student, the school principal shall be responsible for performing all procedures delegated to the support staff.

5. The teacher will be responsible for registering in the Student lnformation System (SIE) the student has accumulated ten (10) or more unjustified absences or cuts of classes during the school year.

6. In addition, the school principal will register in the SIE relevant information regarding the referral done to the SICE, the social welfare agencies, or the Department of Justice.

7. The school principal will generate a report at the end of each school year about students who incurred in a pattern of unjustified absences and about the cases that were referred to the social welfare agencies and the Department of Justice. This report shall be sent to the Assistant Secretary of Student Support Services.

8. Notice to social welfare agencies and the Department of Justice will be done to the following offices:

Any student who introduces, distributes, gifts, sells, or possesses any type of firearm or controlled substance, classified as such in §§ 2101 et seq. of this Title 24, known as the "Controlled Substances Act of Puerto Rico", within the school or its surroundings, shall be suspended by the Secretary for a period not to exceed one (1) year according to the particular circumstances of each case and the procedures prescribed by regulations. For purposes of this section, "any type of weapon" shall include all the weapons included in §§ 455 et seq. of Title 25, known as the "Puerto Rico Weapons Act", or any other successor and/or federal law.

"School surroundings" shall be understood as a perimeter of one hundred (100) meters measured from the school premises as these are delimited by a fence or any other boundary marking. The Department, in conjunction with the concerned government agencies, shall provide the suspended student with alternative education options for the duration of the suspension and, once the suspension has ended, shall place the student in the appropriate level and grade. The legal provisions in effect in our code of laws shall be applied if necessary.

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

I. Norms

Will be carried out as a measure to guarantee a safe environment in our school campuses. These can not be performed randomly. As the authorized officials must strictly follow the procedures laid out in the present Article, to guarantee the reasonableness thereof to perform the interventions with the students. […]

2. Procedure

The bullying, harassment, or intimidation of students is hereby strictly prohibited within the school property or grounds and in its surrounding areas, during school sponsored activities, and/or in school buses.

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Government of Puerto Rico Anti-Bullying and Harassment Act", also known as the "Alexander Santiago- Martínez Act".

This chapter shall be applicable to the public schools of the Department of Education; private educational institutions, and all higher education institutions, as they are defined in Reorganization Plan 1-2010, as amended.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings expressed below:

The Department of Education, the Private Schools Association, the Department of the Family, the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Police, and the Association of School Psychology of Puerto Rico shall have liaison officials in charge of handling cases of harassment and/or bullying in order to work cases from both public schools and private institutions. Furthermore, such departments and associations shall develop training programs and workshops on harassment and intimidation or bullying in public and private schools as well as higher education institutions to train teaching personnel, non-teaching personnel, parents, and students on bullying prevention, identification, and management strategies.

The Department of Education shall be the lead agency in charge of coordinating the efforts to create the Institutional Protocol for the Management of School Harassment, to be implemented in our public schools, and enforcing compliance therewith.

The Department of Education shall design a protocol to manage harassment and/or bullying cases internally which shall be used in public schools.

Every public, private, and higher education institution shall develop and implement an Institutional Protocol for the Management of School Harassment that includes the following factors:

The Department of State of Puerto Rico shall be the agency in charge of overseeing compliance with this Protocol in private and higher education institutions. Every institution shall be required to report any harassment and/or bullying incident within any of its facilities or campuses to the Department of State, pursuant to the procedure established in the Protocol.

It shall be the duty of every primary, secondary, higher education institution, and university, whether public or private, to collect statistics on harassment and/or bullying cases that occur during the school year. Said statistics shall be submitted through annual reports filed not later than July 1st of every year with the Department of Education, in the case of public schools, and to the Department of State of Puerto Rico, in the case of higher education and private institutions.

1. Appoint a Commission of Support for the Central level, a Council Support in school districts, and School Safety Committee in schools, as shown in the Manual for School Safety Support.

Every student in the public education system has the right to:

(d) To provide administrative support to achieve compliance with the school security plans established by the student councils. Said school security plans shall include initiatives directed toward:

(a) General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System.- Students shall try to resolve problems in non-violent ways and through dialogue. Maintain respect for their fellow students, their teachers and the school authorities.

(b) Students shall report any violent act, crime, vandalism and threat of which they become aware to the school director, a teacher or to a parent or guardian.

(c) Students shall actively participate in the crime prevention programs of their school.

(d) Students shall cooperate with the school administration in the identification of places that are conducive to delinquent behavior within the school.

(e) Students shall learn how to avoid becoming victims of a crime within the school. In order to achieve this, they shall stay away from dangerous places with poor lighting and visibility.

(f) Students shall seek help from any member of the school community when they face a situation that may turn out to be dangerous to their physical integrity or safety.

(a) Elected officers are responsible for promoting legislation directed toward the reduction of school violence and the development of safe schools, provided that the resources of the Commonwealth so allow.

(b) Police officers and School Guards I and II shall be responsible for institutional order within one hundred (100) meters surrounding the school premises and in school sponsored activities, in accordance with the regulations established to such effects. It is necessary that these officers develop positive relationships with the components of the school community and exert maximum efforts to achieve a suitable environment for the development of the habit of responsibility and cooperation, and of sound school discipline.

(c) To give conferences and hold assemblies directed toward discussing topics such as school violence prevention, prevention of drug use in the schools, conflict management in the school environment, etc.

(d) Government agencies shall support and actively participate in school activities in order to promote a safe and wholesome environment.

(e) To support research projects directed toward the study of the school violence problem. The information from these research projects may serve as the foundation upon which to generate legislation or initiatives that reduce violence in our schools.

(f) To provide the necessary funds for the implementation of security initiatives in the schools, such as the installation of security devices, programs for monitoring the statistics of criminal and violent incidents in the schools, etc.

(g) To establish interagency collaborative agreements with federal agencies, municipalities and the private sector in order to promote school security.

School psychologists are professionals specialized in this field whose objective is analyzing, reflecting on, and intervening with human behavior in education-related situations, supporting students in overcoming the processes that affect their learning as well as their personal difficulties and their relations with their peers, families, and teachers. School psychologists shall also provide advice and assist the teaching staff in their teaching strategies, especially in the treatment of students with special educational needs and in conflict resolution.

School psychologists shall provide support and services directly to both the teaching staff and students. They shall make evaluations of the academic (achievement and knowledge), intellectual, and emotional areas. In addition, they shall create a student profile with their limitations and strengths for the purpose of helping teachers to use strategies that help the student in the learning process. School psychologists shall advise teachers in the search for new alternatives and facilitate adaptations as are necessary for the benefit of students. School psychologists may identify potential problems that students may have and intervene with them and, if necessary, refer the case to other health professionals.

School psychologists shall: (a) develop primary and secondary prevention strategies within the school context; (b) identify learning and developmental problems in students; (c) participate in interdisciplinary work groups for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs in the school system; (d) administer and interpret psychological and psycho-educational tests, questionnaires, and inventories of students and teachers; and (e) advise teachers, parents, guardians, custodians, and administrators on the analysis, intervention, and implementation of strategies for solving school problems and conflicts.

(a) To establish and promulgate the General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations and give notice thereof by means of a copy and orientations to the parents and students of the public education system. Said regulations shall be adopted pursuant to §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the "Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico", and shall be filed immediately after approval thereof.

(b) The administrative authorities, as well as the teaching and non-teaching personnel, shall have the duty to ensure compliance with the General Regulations for the Student of the Puerto Rico Public Education System and the Internal Security Regulations, especially provisions related to the codes of conduct and behavior.

(c) To establish and promulgate the Crisis Management Strategic Plan for violent incidents in schools to give notice and copy there of to the parents, tutors and students of the Public Education System.

(d) To provide administrative support to achieve compliance with the school security plans established by the student councils. Said school security plans shall include initiatives directed toward:

(e) To redesign those physical facilities whose conditions may influence the development of delinquent or violent activities. The schools should be designed in such a manner so as to prevent the free access of unauthorized persons into the schools and to promote that the school authorities be able to visually supervise student activities in all areas.

(f) The Department of Education shall establish guidelines for the school directors to prepare a report on violent and non-violent incidents within the school premises. Using a standard format, the Director shall gather the information and analyze the data. Subsequently, the Director shall prepare a quarterly report of these findings and submit the same to the School Life Quality Program.

(g) School authorities shall be responsible for coordinating with the Puerto Rico Police the installation of security devices such as video cameras and alarm systems in schools that are declared unsafe by the Department of Education.

(h) The Department of Education shall be responsible for the training of the teaching and administrative personnel on how to manage students with discipline and violence problems. This training shall be based upon conflict management and the early identification of violent situations. The Department of Education is responsible for keeping all its personnel duly informed about the rules for security and violence prevention, so they may know which steps to take in a crisis situation.

(i) The Department of Education shall promote the development of rapid response plans for crisis situations. Among these are plans for evacuation in case of fire, earthquakes, gas leaks and bomb or terrorist threats. Each component of the school system shall clearly understand its role in the crisis plan. The plan shall include a strategy for communicating with security agencies such as the Puerto Rico Police, the Firefighters Corps, Medical Emergencies [Corps.] and the Commonwealth Emergency Management and Disaster Administration Agency. Moreover, a plan shall be established for communicating with the parents and the communications media in case of emergency.

(j) The Department of Education shall ensure compliance with the prevention and orientation programs directed toward the reduction of violent incidents and conflict management in the schools. These training programs shall emphasize problem solving, social interaction, peer pressure management, understanding of values and conflict management skills.

(k) The Department of Education shall use alternative educational environments for those students who have faced school violence problems so as to guarantee a safe school community.

(a) General Regulations for the Students of the Puerto Rico Public Education System.- Students shall try to resolve problems in non-violent ways and through dialogue. Maintain respect for their fellow students, their teachers and the school authorities.

(b) Students shall report any violent act, crime, vandalism and threat of which they become aware to the school director, a teacher or to a parent or guardian.

(c) Students shall actively participate in the crime prevention programs of their school.

(d) Students shall cooperate with the school administration in the identification of places that are conducive to delinquent behavior within the school.

(e) Students shall learn how to avoid becoming victims of a crime within the school. In order to achieve this, they shall stay away from dangerous places with poor lighting and visibility.

(f) Students shall seek help from any member of the school community when they face a situation that may turn out to be dangerous to their physical integrity or safety.

The Department of Education shall design a protocol to manage harassment and/or bullying cases internally which shall be used in public schools.

Every public, private, and higher education institution shall develop and implement an Institutional Protocol for the Management of School Harassment that includes the following factors:

2. Any member of the School Community shall inform the Director of any student or school-related persons’ behavior that involves a possible violation of law, rules, school rules or guidelines, either by personal knowledge of the facts or information obtained. This applies to behavior occurring on school campus, one hundred (100) feet around, school-sponsored activities, in any branch of the Department of Education, and on school transportation.

3. The teacher will be responsible for institutional climate and fostering good student discipline. They will refer discipline issues to the Director of School Discipline, with all the evidence of interventions implemented, after it has exhausted all available resources such as, but not limited to: interviews with the student, with the guardian, with the interdisciplinary team or have referred the student to the classroom teacher, School Social Worker or School Counselor. After having evaluated the disciplinary situation, the Principal will determine those cases which it considers require immediate intervention or the Safety Committee.

1) Concepts:

1. Teachers will follow the guidelines provided in Circular Letter 16-2013-2014, or the current circular letter, that establishes the procedure to be followed in implementing school retention norms of the Department of Education.

2. The school principal shall require teachers to keep a daily record of the students enrolled in the course and supervise the maintenance of this daily record of student attendance.

3. Next, the actions to follow according to the pattern of unjustified absences by the student.

4. In the case that the school doesn’t have support staff assigned, in line with the steps set out in the table above and according to the number of absences by the student, the school principal shall be responsible for performing all procedures delegated to the support staff.

5. The teacher will be responsible for registering in the Student lnformation System (SIE) the student has accumulated ten (10) or more unjustified absences or cuts of classes during the school year.

6. In addition, the school principal will register in the SIE relevant information regarding the referral done to the SICE, the social welfare agencies, or the Department of Justice.

7. The school principal will generate a report at the end of each school year about students who incurred in a pattern of unjustified absences and about the cases that were referred to the social welfare agencies and the Department of Justice. This report shall be sent to the Assistant Secretary of Student Support Services.

All parents with children in the Public Education System have the right to:

All persons have the right to education. The education to be provided by the State shall be free for all students of the Public Education System. Elementary and secondary education shall be compulsory. All students shall be guaranteed equal protection of the laws and rights granted by the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, the Constitution of Puerto Rico, and other applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. Without it being construed as a limitation, students shall have the following rights:

(1) Observe the laws, regulations, circular letters, rules, instructions, and directives issued by academic authorities.

(2) Be punctual and attend school regularly as well as behave appropriately during school hours, recess, and other school activities, whether they are held inside or outside the school.

(3) Preserve, take care of, protect, and avoid damaging public property, equipment, books, or school supplies.

(4) To refrain from interrupting class.

(5) To refrain from coercing other students into participating in a particular mode of expression, or from violating the right of other students to dissent from their points of view.

(6) Parents or guardians shall be responsible for the punctuality and regular school attendance of their unemancipated minors, and for notifying school authorities of the existence of any circumstance that warrants their absence.

(7) Parents or guardians shall be responsible for repairing any damages caused by their unemancipated minors to public property, equipment, or school supplies. In the case of a student who is of legal age or emancipated, he shall personally assume responsibility for the damages caused.

(8) Parents or guardians of a minor shall be responsible for updating their contact information in the event that school authorities should need to contact them. This information shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the parent’s home and/or work address; the home, work, or cell phone number of both parents, and contact information of a relative or person trusted by the parents, in the event that parents cannot be immediately contacted during an emergency. This information shall be kept in a safe place and shall only be accessed by the school principal, his secretary, the school guidance counselor, or the school social worker.

(9) If a student is absent for more than three (3) consecutive days without any justification whatsoever, it shall be the responsibility of the school authorities to contact the parents or guardians of said student to determine the cause of said absences.

(10) The duties and responsibilities set forth in this Section shall not be construed as limiting or excluding any other right, duty, or responsibility that the school may grant or require of students.

2.B.2) Procedures for Formal Complaints

3. Next, the actions to follow according to the pattern of unjustified absences by the student.

It shall be the duty of every primary, secondary, higher education institution, and university, whether public or private, to collect statistics on harassment and/or bullying cases that occur during the school year. Said statistics shall be submitted through annual reports filed not later than July 1st of every year with the Department of Education, in the case of public schools, and to the Department of State of Puerto Rico, in the case of higher education and private institutions.

The Department of Education, the Private Schools Association, the Department of the Family, the Department of Health, the Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Police, and the Association of School Psychology of Puerto Rico shall have liaison officials in charge of handling cases of harassment and/or bullying in order to work cases from both public schools and private institutions. Furthermore, such departments and associations shall develop training programs and workshops on harassment and intimidation or bullying in public and private schools as well as higher education institutions to train teaching personnel, non-teaching personnel, parents, and students on bullying prevention, identification, and management strategies.

2.B.2) Procedures for Formal Complaints

3. Next, the actions to follow according to the pattern of unjustified absences by the student.

5. The school principal shall inform the Juvenile Court when students participate in any judicial program (as diversion or dispositive).

6. In addition, the school principal will register in the SIE relevant information regarding the referral done to the SICE, the social welfare agencies, or the Department of Justice.

7. The school principal will generate a report at the end of each school year about students who incurred in a pattern of unjustified absences and about the cases that were referred to the social welfare agencies and the Department of Justice. This report shall be sent to the Assistant Secretary of Student Support Services.

8. Notice to social welfare agencies and the Department of Justice will be done to the following offices:

Any person interested in being considered as a member of the Corps shall submit to the Department a certificate of good conduct issued by the Police of Puerto Rico, and shall submit to a psychological evaluation that measures personality profiles which shall be administered by a psychiatrist or psychologist duly authorized to practice his profession in Puerto Rico and who has training in the area of behavioral modification or psychodiagnosis. The results of the psychological evaluation as well as the evidence that appears on the good conduct certificate shall be indispensable conditions which the Department shall consider when recruiting members of the Corps.

These persons will undergo a thorough and confidential investigation of their character, reputation, habits, behavior in the community and other details related to the honesty, integrity and suitability of the candidates.

They shall also be subjected to an investigation of their conduct in the area where they reside.

The Secretary is hereby empowered to adopt the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter, including the requirements that must be met by School Security Corps candidates. These rules and regulations shall include the requirement of undergoing Police Academy training for a period of not less than three (3) months, which shall be a part of the trial period of candidates. Such regulations shall conform to the provisions of present §§ 2101 et seq. of Title 3, known as the "Uniform Administrative Procedures Act of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico".

(a) Elected officers are responsible for promoting legislation directed toward the reduction of school violence and the development of safe schools, provided that the resources of the Commonwealth so allow.

(b) Police officers and School Guards I and II shall be responsible for institutional order within one hundred (100) meters surrounding the school premises and in school sponsored activities, in accordance with the regulations established to such effects. It is necessary that these officers develop positive relationships with the components of the school community and exert maximum efforts to achieve a suitable environment for the development of the habit of responsibility and cooperation, and of sound school discipline.

(c) To give conferences and hold assemblies directed toward discussing topics such as school violence prevention, prevention of drug use in the schools, conflict management in the school environment, etc.

(d) Government agencies shall support and actively participate in school activities in order to promote a safe and wholesome environment.

(e) To support research projects directed toward the study of the school violence problem. The information from these research projects may serve as the foundation upon which to generate legislation or initiatives that reduce violence in our schools.

(f) To provide the necessary funds for the implementation of security initiatives in the schools, such as the installation of security devices, programs for monitoring the statistics of criminal and violent incidents in the schools, etc.

(g) To establish interagency collaborative agreements with federal agencies, municipalities and the private sector in order to promote school security.

Whereas, it has always been the public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to protect and watch over the well-being of our children; whereas, in the majority of the cases the public education system has been and is one that harbors the public school students of the country during a considerable portion of the day; whereas, our Commonwealth has been experiencing a constant increase in criminality and in acts of vandalism and violence which have taken place recently in the school buildings and grounds; it is, therefore, necessary and urgent to create a public security corps under the direction of the Secretary of Education for a more effective protection of the safety of students, teachers, administrative personnel as well as the school's physical facilities.

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meaning expressed hereinbelow:

The School Security Corps attached to the Department of Education is hereby created.

The Secretary is hereby authorized to determine the organization and administration of the Corps as well as its obligations, responsibilities and any other matters essential to its operation, by regulations that he shall promulgate to such effects. In the event that the convenience of bearing arms is provided, the authorization and approval of the Superintendent of the Police shall be obtained.

The Secretary shall request the necessary funds and administer them to achieve an effective operation of the Corps pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

The Secretary shall take the necessary steps so that the members of the Corps shall first be assigned to those school buildings and grounds where there has been a high rate of vandalism and criminality. These schools shall be given priority at the Secretary's discretion.

The members and personnel of the Corps shall be subject to and protected by the provisions of Act No. 5 of October 14, 1975, known as the "Puerto Rico Public Service Personnel Act".

The Corps shall have the following powers and duties under the direction of the Secretary:

The Secretary shall coordinate with the Government and especially the Commonwealth Police and the Municipal Police, as necessary, in its efforts to prevent and fight crime in all of its forms in order to achieve the purposes for which the creation of this Corps is authorized.

The Commonwealth Police and the Municipal Police in those municipalities where it exists shall take the necessary steps to make the coordination provided herein effective.

This chapter does not restrict or limit in any manner the powers and duties assigned to the Police of Puerto Rico and the Municipal Police.

The post of Commissioner of the School Security Corps who shall be charged with the direction and supervision of the Corps created by this chapter is hereby created and attached to the Department.

The garments which shall constitute the official uniform of the Corps and the equipment destined to it shall be determined by regulations.

The use of the uniform or any combination of the garments that form a part of it by any person who is not a member of the Corps is hereby prohibited. Any person who violates the prohibition provided herein shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

In the event the Superintendent of Police by request of the Secretary authorizes the members of the Corps by regulations to use weapons, they may bear such weapons while they are on watch outside of school hours, on holidays or when expressly authorized to do so.

The Secretary shall be empowered to accept aid or cooperation of any nature, whether it be financial, property or services, including donations, whether in cash, technical or personal services, or equipment, which originates from individuals, citizen groups or private entities, profitable or nonprofitable institutions, the government of the United States of America, from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, its municipalities, or from any government instrumentality, agency or subdivision in order to achieve the purposes of this chapter.

The Secretary is hereby empowered to enter into every type of agreement and contract with public, juridical or natural persons, and with federal, Commonwealth or municipal agencies, under the terms and conditions he deems are necessary and convenient for the best application of this chapter and the achievement of its ends.

The Secretary shall take the necessary steps for the members of the Corps to be trained at the Puerto Rico Police Academy, and the Superintendent of Police of Puerto Rico is hereby authorized to offer all possible help and collaboration.

The Secretary shall render an annual evaluation report to the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and to the Legislature in order to disclose the accomplishments and scope of this chapter which creates the School Security Corps.