What was the main purpose of the SSDI collaboration between the US Department of Justice and the US Department of Education?

The primary purpose of the SSDI (Supportive School Discipline Initiative) collaboration between the US Department of Justice and the US Department of Education is to enforce discrimination prohibitions. This initiative aims to address the disparities in school discipline and to ensure that disciplinary actions within schools do not disproportionately affect students based on race, disability, or gender. By focusing on enforcing these prohibitions, the initiative promotes a more equitable approach to discipline that supports positive student behavior without resorting to discriminatory practices.

This approach also aligns with broader educational goals of fostering safe and supportive learning environments for all students, reducing reliance on exclusionary disciplinary measures, and ensuring that students remain in school and engaged in their education. Thus, the collaboration ultimately seeks to create a fairer and more just framework for handling discipline in context to legal and civil rights standards.