Policy & Practice · School Conflict Resolution

Alabama Makes History: What SB364 Means for Mediation Education Nationwide

A landmark new law requires every Alabama public school student to complete violence prevention and conflict resolution training before graduation — and the research strongly backs it up.

DC Mediation & Dispute Resolution Institute · June 2026 · 8-min read

For the first time in Alabama's history, conflict resolution and mediation have become a graduation requirement for every public school student. Act 2026-279 — known as SB364 — represents one of the most expansive state commitments to school-based peacemaking in the country. At the DC Mediation and Dispute Resolution Institute, we believe this signals a turning point worth every educator, administrator, and community leader paying close attention to.

The Law

What Alabama's SB364 Actually Requires

Signed by Governor Kay Ivey and effective October 1, 2026, Act 2026-279 adds Alabama Code §16-40-13 — mandating that all public school students in grades 6 through 12 complete a course or program in violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation before they can graduate from high school.

The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support — the House voted 82–16 and the Senate 29–1. It was introduced by Senator Rodger Smitherman (D–Birmingham), who framed the legislation as a direct response to rising youth violence and the erosion of face-to-face communication skills in the social media era.

The law mandates instruction across seven core topic areas:

Responsible Decision-Making

Building the judgment students need before conflicts escalate.

Causes & Effects of School Violence, Harassment, and Cultural Diversity

Understanding the roots of conflict and the role that difference — and misunderstanding of difference — plays.

Consequences of Violent Behavior

Real outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Causes of Violent Reactions to Conflict

Emotional literacy and situational awareness as prevention tools.

Nonviolent Conflict Resolution Techniques

Practical, teachable skills for de-escalation and constructive dialogue.

The Relationship Between Substance Abuse and Violence

Research-backed education on how drug and alcohol use amplifies the risk of violent behavior.

Voluntary Peer Mediation Programs

Training student leaders to serve as mediators among their peers.

"They need to have some tools when they run into these kinds of conflicts — so that it won't escalate into violence."

— Sen. Rodger Smitherman, sponsor of SB364

Implementation

How and When It Rolls Out

The law places responsibility for curriculum development with the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), which must produce instructional materials, models, and curricula by June 30, 2027. Local school boards will then choose or adapt curricula that satisfy the requirement. The State Board of Education is directed to adopt implementing rules, with the program fully operational beginning with the 2027–2028 school year.

October 1, 2026

SB364 takes effect. Rulemaking and ALSDE planning begin.

Winter 2026–2027

ALSDE convenes working groups; draft course guidelines and model curricula are developed.

June 30, 2027

ALSDE materials and curricula due to all local school boards.

Summer 2027

Teacher training workshops; districts finalize curriculum adoptions.

Fall 2027

Programs launch in grades 6–12 statewide. The class entering 6th grade becomes the first full cohort.

The Evidence

Does the Research Support This Approach?

The short answer is yes — with important caveats. A substantial body of research on school-based Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), conflict resolution, and peer mediation supports Alabama's bet, though outcomes depend heavily on program design, implementation quality, and sustained investment.

What the Research Shows

✓	A systematic review of U.S. elementary programs found that PBIS and Positive Action reduced violence, suspensions, and disruptive behavior when combined with SEL components.
✓	A meta-analysis of universal SEL programs found more than three-quarters of interventions reduced or slowed aggression and conduct problems — though average effects were modest, confirming SEL works best as part of a broader strategy.
✓	Peer mediation programs consistently show that trained students use more constructive conflict strategies, and schools often report fewer disciplinary referrals as a result.
✓	National survey data show that heavy alcohol, marijuana, or other drug use is associated with youth being 3 to 10 times more likely to carry weapons, fight, and experience or perpetrate violence.
✓	Evidence is consistent: program intensity, duration, implementation fidelity, and ongoing evaluation strongly determine outcomes. Brief, one-off programs tend to underperform.

Broader Context

Alabama Joins a Growing National Movement

Alabama is not starting from scratch. Peer mediation programs have operated in schools across Kansas, Texas, and dozens of other states for decades. Oregon requires bullying prevention training in all schools. The federal CDC has documented that universal school-based violence prevention programs can reduce aggressive behavior among high schoolers by roughly 29 percent — at a cost that research suggests yields a 15-to-1 benefit-to-cost ratio.

Programs such as Second Step, Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PATHS), and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program offer proven, ready-to-adapt curricula that align closely with what SB364 requires. Senator Smitherman was deliberate in emphasizing the program's reach: "It's not just targeting urban. Not targeting rural. It's targeting all our students."

What This Means for Practitioners & Educators

→	If your school or district has an existing peer mediation or SEL program, document your outcomes now and position your model for adoption under SB364.
→	Organizations with conflict resolution curricula and training capacity should engage ALSDE proactively as its working groups form this fall.
→	Teacher professional development in mediation skills — not just content knowledge — will be in high demand. Trainers who specialize in experiential, skill-based learning are particularly well positioned.
→	Equity advocates should monitor implementation closely to ensure students with disabilities, English language learners, and under-resourced districts receive the same quality instruction.

Our Take

A Moment for the Field

At the DC Mediation and Dispute Resolution Institute, we have long held that conflict resolution is not a niche skill — it is a foundational one. The ability to navigate disagreement constructively, to understand what drives conflict, to seek common ground: these capacities make better citizens, better colleagues, and safer communities.

Alabama's SB364 is an affirmation of that premise at the state level. The law's passage represents a genuine institutional commitment to equipping young people with skills that courts, workplaces, and families have needed for generations. We will be watching this rollout closely — and we encourage our colleagues across the mediation and education communities to do the same.

Interested in Mediation Training for Your School or Organization?

The DC Mediation and Dispute Resolution Institute offers professional training, curriculum consultation, and certification programs grounded in the same evidence base Alabama is now building into law.

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Tags: School Mediation · Conflict Resolution · Alabama SB364 · SEL · Peer Mediation · Violence Prevention · Education Policy

Every Alabama Student Must Now Learn Conflict Resolution Before Graduating