Summary of S. 1338 – Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2025

Overview

• Bill number: S. 1338
  
• Title: Ending PUSHOUT Act of 2025 (full formal citation: Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma Act of 2025)
  
• Status: Introduced in the Senate on April 8, 2025; referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP)
  
• Sponsor: Cory Booker (primary)
  
• Related bill (House companion): HR 2738

Purpose and intent

The bill’s name and short title indicate an aim to reduce or end punitive, unfair, and school-based practices that remove students from the classroom and fail to respond to trauma. In plain terms, the act is positioned to shift away from punitive discipline toward approaches that are more trauma-informed and less likely to result in student removal from the learning environment.

Key provisions (provisions not provided in the material)

The exact statutory text and detailed provisions are not included in the provided information. Based on the title and standard elements of similar education-disparity reform bills, potential areas likely addressed (but not guaranteed here) could include:
- Limits or reforms to punitive disciplinary practices (e.g., suspensions/expulsions) and alternatives to removal from class.
- Requirements for trauma-informed approaches in discipline policies and school climate initiatives.
- Data collection, transparency, and reporting on school discipline metrics.
- Professional development and training for school staff on trauma and behavior management.
- Funding mechanisms or grants to support implementation in school districts.
- Accountability provisions for districts and schools to monitor and reduce disproportional discipline impacts.

Important: The above categories are inferred from the bill’s title. The precise provisions, definitions, funding, and enforcement mechanisms would be specified in the enacted text.

Who would be affected

• Students: Particularly those who are most impacted by punitive discipline and trauma exposure (e.g., students of color, students with disabilities).
• Educators and school staff: Training requirements and new discipline policies may affect day-to-day practices.
• School districts and schools: Potential changes in policy, reporting requirements, and funding opportunities.
• Families and communities: Impacts through school climate reforms and student retention in classroom instruction.

Procedural and timeline aspects

• Introduced in the Senate on April 8, 2025.
• Read twice and referred to the Senate HELP Committee on the introduction date.
• No further action detailed in the provided information.
• The companion House bill, HR 2738, indicates a parallel path for the reform in the House.

Next steps for readers

• Monitor HELP Committee actions for hearings, amendments, and markup.
• Review the full bill text when released to understand specific prohibitions, definitions (e.g., what counts as punitive discipline), and any funding or reporting provisions.
• Compare S. 1338 with HR 2738 to gauge consistency between the Senate and House approaches.