Students press for CDE task force and PPS training to expand restorative justice

Students argued that exclusionary discipline remains common despite policy shifts and proposed a CDE‑convened task force to create a digital training framework for pupil personnel services (PPS) staff to apply restorative approaches.

Raylene Chaco and colleagues cited SB 2744 (2023) banning suspensions for willful defiance and told the committee AB 1919 had been vetoed by the governor because of perceived implementation costs. "Newsom's office released a public statement asserting that the state simply didn't have the budget for it," a panelist said, urging a lower‑cost digital training model and volunteer task‑force membership while acknowledging state funding would likely be necessary to produce and maintain the online course.

During questions, senators raised confidentiality concerns about student participation in closed‑session hearings and asked whether student board members or PPS staff should have access to expulsion materials. Committee staff estimated state task‑force costs could range from $400,000–$800,000; Senator Cortezi said county peer‑court models and judicial partnerships may offer precedents for student involvement. The committee did not vote on legislation at the hearing.