Overview of the School Discipline Guidance Package - Supportive School Discipline (SSD) Webinar Series

The U.S. Department of Education (ED), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), released on January 8th a school discipline guidance package that will assist states, districts and schools in developing solutions to enhance school climate, and improve school discipline policies and practices. While incidents of school violence have decreased overall, too many schools are still struggling to create positive, safe environments. The guidance package provides resources for creating such climates, which are essential for boosting student academic success and closing achievement gaps.

Learning Objectives:

Describe how schools can meet their legal obligations under federal civil rights law to administer student discipline without discriminating against students on the basis of race, color or national origin

Explain the three key principles and related action steps to improve school climate and school discipline

List the federal technical assistance and other resources on school discipline and climate available to schools and districts

Provide a comparison of the various state laws and regulations related to school discipline