This letter to Secretary Duncan and Attorney General Holder expresses First Focus’ support for the school climate and discipline guidance issued jointly by the Department of Education and the Department of Justice on January 8, 2014. Students across the country have been subject to school discipline policies that forces students out of the classroom, leads to more suspensions, expulsions and references to law enforcement, and that disproportionately affect students of color and students with disabilities. This guidance is an important step toward ending these harmful practices, and in the letter we express our support and gratitude for the guidance as well as our hope for additional funding to help states and schools successfully implement this important guidance.
