Suspensions for Defiance Banned in CA

AUSTIN HERNANDEZ Copy Editor

On Monday, Sept. 9, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law. Senate Bill 419 bans schools from suspending students for defiance, which can include disrupting class or being disobedient. 

According to the Sacramento Bee, the new law, which will go into effect in July of 2020, would apply to students in K-8 and prevents expulsion for these reasons. 

Current California law already prohibits the suspension of students in grades K-3. The bill applies permanently for grades 4-5 and for a five year trial for grades 6-8. “Elimination of suspension for disruption [and] defiance will result in overall positive outcomes for students and [for] their communities,” the organization known as the Alliance of Boys and Men of Color said. The Charter Schools Development Center, or the CSDC, argued against this bill from being passed, claiming there is no evidence of an expulsion problem at all. 

“This ban of disciplinary expulsions could result in more students pushing the limits of their disruptive behavior,” junior Jonathan Alarcon said. 

According to the LA School Report, LAUSD has prohibited suspensions for willful defiance for grades K-12 since 2013.

 The bill will be set to pass on July 1st, 2020 but could be extended to 2025 if the bill becomes a law.