National Coalition Condemns Education Department Guidance on Student Discipline in K-12 Schools, Issues Brief to Help Schools Use Evidence-Based Practices

by kids1stadvocac | Sep 15, 2026 | Federal

The Federal School Discipline and Climate Coalition (FedSDC) issued a press advisory condemning the Department of Education’s August 18 Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) that encourages States and school districts to replace proven effective practices with those that...

Department of Education Requires Schools to Eliminate Race Consideration in Student Discipline

by kids1stadvocac | Aug 18, 2026 | Federal

Today, in new guidance issued to educational institutions via a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), Kim Richey, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, told schools that discipline policies must “treat students even-handedly and must neither favor nor disfavor any student...

GA: Georgia first-grader with autism suspended over sandwich incident sparks special education debate

by kids1stadvocac | Aug 4, 2026 | State

Cleveland.com A Georgia family says its 6-year-old son with autism was suspended from school after biting his sandwich into the shape of a gun and pretending to point it at another student during lunch, an incident the parents argue reflects a broader pattern of...

IA: ACLU of Iowa urges schools to get rid of School Resource Officer programs

by kids1stadvocac | Aug 4, 2026 | State

CBS2 Iowa A new report from the ACLU of Iowa says federal data shows Black students and students with disabilities are disproportionately referred to law enforcement and arrested in Iowa schools. The ACLU said about one-quarter of Iowa schools have a school resource...

MO: Special School District ends seclusion, limits restraints under new student safety policies

by kids1stadvocac | Jul 28, 2026 | Restraint & Seclusion, State

First Alert 4 The Special School District of St. Louis County is implementing new policies ahead of the upcoming school year to improve student safety and ensure that students with disabilities are treated with greater dignity in the classroom. The changes follow a...