An Act to remedy disparities in students' educational achievement

This bill amends Massachusetts education laws to clarify the rules for suspending and expelling students based on specific disciplinary actions. It updates the list of prohibited items to include certain devices and controlled substances like cocaine and heroin while explicitly excluding marijuana. The legislation also strengthens due process requirements by mandating that students receive written notice of charges and their right to a hearing before any suspension takes effect. Additionally, it ensures that all official notices regarding disciplinary actions are provided in both English and the student's primary home language. Finally, the bill expands the grounds for expulsion to include situations where a student poses a specific, documentable concern of inflicting serious bodily injury on others.