Committee advances bill to require conflict-resolution training before high school; amendment shifts requirement to middle school

The Senate Education Policy Committee advanced SP 34, a bill from Senator Smitherman that would require conflict-resolution training for students prior to graduation (as originally drafted). The State Board of Education requested an amendment to require the training before promotion to high school. The committee adopted that amendment and gave the bill a favorable report.

Senator Smitherman said the training responds to youth conflicts amplified by social media and reduced in-person interaction. “I’ve seen this happen where somebody said on social media that you’re a bad person … from that post, I’ve seen get to a point where folks have guns and do everything just because of that post,” Smitherman said, arguing that universal exposure to conflict-resolution training would reduce escalations.

Committee members said evidence shows many problems emerge in middle school—particularly seventh grade—and agreed it made sense to require the training earlier. Members also announced the committee will hear a panel of experts on social media and cell phones at the next meeting to consider policies other states have adopted.

The transcript records an amendment offered by Senator Smitherman to strike the high-school graduation wording and replace it with “before promotion to high school,” the amendment being seconded and approved. The committee then moved the bill forward with a favorable report. The record does not include funding details or a program model for delivering training; those details were not specified.