Commission on Advancing Restorative Justice in Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2026

The bill aims to address racial and gender biases in school discipline and improve educational opportunities for students of color. It seeks to support the mental and behavioral health of these students by increasing access to culturally competent mental health support and counseling services. A core purpose is to codify restorative-level practices that create equitable learning environments and build academic engagement. To achieve these goals, the legislation mandates the establishment of an Interagency Advisory Commission on Advancing Restorative Justice in Elementary and Secondary Education , formed by the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services. This Commission will be tasked with several key duties, including creating guidelines for schools to track participation in restorative practices and developing official definitions for "restorative justice" and "restorative practices" for the Department of Education. Furthermore, the Commission will develop and distribute training materials for school personnel to reduce bias, enhance cultural competency, and improve responses to student behavior. It will also work to increase the capacity of school personnel to provide accessible and culturally responsive mental health support to students of color. Finally, the Commission is charged with recommending optimal school psychologist-to-student and counselor-to-student ratios to ensure lower caseloads, evidence-based interventions, and accessible mental health support in schools.