HB131

Please see attached document on behalf of a Regional Collaborative Educational Group who opposes this HB131 non germane amendment.

We, the district coordinators of wellness and counseling, along with a regional working group of educators representing approximately 10,000 students and their families, are writing to share our concerns regarding House Bill 131 and to highlight the critical role of Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Behavior (MTSS-B) in effectively preventing and addressing bullying in schools. HB 131 mandates disciplinary consequences for students who engage in bullying or cyberbullying, including suspension and expulsion. While accountability is important, positioning punitive action as the primary response risks limiting the use of evidence-based, preventive, and restorative strategies that research demonstrates are most effective in reducing bullying over time. MTSS-B provides a comprehensive, tiered framework that: Prioritizes Prevention: By embedding positive behavioral supports throughout the school culture, MTSS-B reduces the occurrence of bullying before incidents escalate. Provides Tiered Supports: Students receive interventions proportional to their needs, from universal strategies for all students to targeted supports for those at higher risk. Integrates Restorative Practices: MTSS-B emphasizes repairing harm and building social-emotional skills, fostering long-term behavioral change alongside accountability. Uses Data to Guide Action: Behavioral data informs timely and effective interventions, ensuring that supports are responsive and evidence-based. HB 131’s mandatory disciplinary language positions consequences as the primary tool, which may unintentionally reduce flexibility for schools to implement the holistic, prevention-focused strategies that MTSS-B promotes. While the bill does allow for interventions alongside discipline, we believe that greater emphasis on preventive and restorative approaches will better serve students, families, and educators alike. As leaders supporting the social-emotional well-being and safety of 10,000 students, we urge legislators to recognize the merits of MTSS-B and consider integrating its principles into state policy. A focus on prevention, restorative practices, and tiered behavioral supports will strengthen school safety, improve student outcomes, and create more supportive learning environments for all. Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss how MTSS-B can inform effective anti-bullying policy across New Hampshire.

Please help support our students and teachers. They were not the ones to cause this issue but 5hey are paying the costs.