Definitions

In this Act: (1) ESEA terms The terms elementary school, evidence-based, local educational agency, parent, professional development, school leader, secondary school, Secretary, and specialized instructional support personnel have the meaning given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). (2) Covered program The term covered program means— (A) all the operations of an elementary school, a secondary school, or a local educational agency; or (B) a program that serves children who receive services for which financial assistance is provided in accordance with the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.). (3) Credible messenger The term credible messenger means any individual who serves as a mentor, is from the same communities in which the students and families they serve live, and whose lived experiences serve as a credential in their work to provide guidance, empowerment, support, and encouragement to students and their families with whom the credible messenger has shared or similar experiences. Shared experiences include being a person of color, being directly impacted or having involvement in the legal system, having involvement in the child welfare system, being directly impacted by exclusionary school discipline and policing in schools, having experienced housing instability, having a disability, or identifying as LGBTQI+. (4) Positive behavioral interventions and supports The term positive behavioral interventions and supports means— (A) a schoolwide, systematic approach that embeds evidence-based practices and data-driven decision making to improve school climate and culture in order to achieve improved academic and social outcomes and increase learning for all students (including students with the most complex and intensive behavioral needs); and (B) encompasses a range of systemic and individualized positive strategies to teach and reinforce school-expected behaviors, while discouraging and diminishing undesirable behaviors. (5) Covered law enforcement officer The term covered law enforcement officer — (A) means any person who— (i) is a State, Tribal, or local law enforcement officer (as defined in section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10284)); and (ii) is assigned by the employing law enforcement agency to a covered program, who is contracting with a covered program, or who is employed by a covered program; and (B) includes an individual referred to as a school resource officer if that individual meets the definition in subparagraph (A). (6) Trauma-informed services The term trauma-informed services means a service delivery approach that— (A) recognizes and responds to the impacts of trauma with evidence-based supports and intervention; (B) emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers of services and survivors of trauma; and (C) creates opportunities for survivors of trauma to rebuild a sense of healing and empowerment.