Purpose

It is the purpose of this Act to— (1) strengthen data collection related to exclusionary discipline practices in schools and the discriminatory application of such practices, which disproportionately pushes students of color, particularly girls of color, out of school; (2) eliminate the discriminatory use and overuse of exclusionary discipline practices based on actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth, a medical condition related to pregnancy or childbirth, parenting status, or other stereotype related to sex), or disability; (3) eliminate all unnecessary loss of instructional time due to unsound or excessive use of formal and informal disciplinary removal from instructional settings; and (4) prevent the criminalization and pushout of students from school, especially Black and Brown girls, as a result of educational barriers that include discrimination, adultification, punitive discipline policies and practices, and a failure to recognize and support students with mental health needs or experiencing trauma.