DEKALB, Ill. (AP) — A new law will require Illinois schools to develop more measured discipline policies beginning next school year.

The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle reports a bill signed into law this summer by Gov. Bruce Rauner requires schools to end zero-tolerance policies, limit out-of-school suspensions, address bullying and create a parent-teacher advisory board on school discipline.

The law also says sending students to alternative schools should be a last resort for discipline.

The National School Boards Association has said out-of-school suspensions can be bad for students because they remove them from a learning environment and often result in them being unsupervised.

Thomas Kim, principal of Huntley Middle School in DeKalb, says the new law gives schools a chance to better engage students.