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Statement from Deborah Delisle on the Education Department’s New Discipline Guidance

For Release: Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Contact: Dorie Turner Nolt, 404.861.1127, dturnernolt@all4ed.org  

“We applaud the U.S. Department of Education’s new guidance from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) on how to ensure students with disabilities receive the supports and services to which they’re entitled while learning in safe, inclusive, and supportive environments. As schools continue to work with students and families recovering from the trauma of the pandemic and combat a growing mental health crisis among our nation’s young people, this federal guidance offers important guidelines and tools to protect the safety and well-being of students and improve school climate in a holistic manner. Additionally, it demonstrates a commitment to ensuring students with disabilities are guaranteed their rights to access the behavioral supports and special education services they need and protect them from harsh or exclusionary discipline practices. Our students deserve every chance we can give them for healthy development and learning. All students deserve respect, and this guidance is a significant contribution to the field of education.”

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Deborah S. Delisle is the president and CEO of All4Ed (formerly the Alliance for Excellent Education) and served as assistant secretary of elementary and secondary education from 2012 to 2015. 

All4Ed (formerly the Alliance for Excellent Education) is a Washington, DC–based national organization dedicated to advancing policies and practices so all students, especially those from underserved communities and particularly students of color and those from low-income families, graduate from high school prepared to complete postsecondary education and achieve success in a rapidly changing world. all4ed.org