the student population.
- In Bay county schools, African-American students account for 30 percent of all out-of-school suspensions even though they comprise only 15 percent of the student population.
- In Suwannee county schools, African-American students account for 31 percent of all out-of-school suspensions, but represent only 14 percent of the student population.
- In Flagler county schools, African-American students account for 31 percent of all out-of-school suspensions even though they are only 16 percent of the student population.
The complaints explain how the school districts have imposed long-term suspensions on children as young as 8 years old for minor rule infractions such as tardiness, inappropriate cell phone usage, talking in class and dress code violations.
The complaints also describe how the school districts fail to provide school principals with specific disciplinary guidelines and procedures. This grants principals the power to remove students from school for vague and often minor rule infractions.
Several cases described in the complaints illustrate how African-American children are punished more harshly and more frequently than white students:
- M.C., an African-American student in Escambia County, was suspended and arrested for “trespassing” after purchasing a hot meal at a neighboring high school. Before this incident, M.C. had no history of discipline issues.
- D.G., a 12-year-old African-American student in Bay County, received 23 days of out-of-school suspension during the 2011-12 school year for minor infractions such as chewing gum, “mouthing off” and talking in class.
- L.H., an African-American student in Flagler County, was written up 19 times during the 2011-12 school year. Each instance was for minor, nonviolent misconduct.
Florida, like many states across the county, has amended its zero-tolerance discipline law to encourage schools to handle minor behavioral problems with in-school discipline rather than harsh policies that decrease a student’s time in the regular classroom.
While each district has changed its written policies, practices have not changed. Many school districts continue to suspend students for lengthy periods, send them to alternative schools, expel them or unnecessarily refer them to the juvenile justice system.
“Local school districts and state officials must make reforms that improve the effectiveness of school disciplinary policies without forcing children out of the classroom,” said Tania Galloni, managing attorney of the SPLC’s Florida office. “School discipline should never deprive a child of an education, but that is happening in these school districts. What was once considered minor misconduct has become an opportunity to punish or even criminalize a student's behavior.”