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LA school district could become nation's first to ban suspensions

The Los Angeles Unified School District could move to ban suspensions of students who choose to defy rules. The board will deliberate on the bill tomorrow. 

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Robert Harbison/The Christian Science Monitor/File
In this file photo, the downtown Los Angeles skyline is seen with the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains in the distance.
  • By Staff Associated Press

| Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Unified School District could become the nation's first to ban suspensions of students who are willfully defiant.

The school board on Tuesday is scheduled to consider the ban, which is supported by the school superintendent.

Currently, students can be suspended for refusing to remove a hat or cursing the teacher.

The Los Angeles Times says willful defiance suspensions accounted for nearly half of all California suspensions in the 2011-2012 school year. Black students were disproportionately affected.

Critics say it's a catch-all way of getting rid of underachievers that hurts the student but does nothing to solve behavior issues.

Supporters say defiant kids disrupt classes and reduce learning time. Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill last year that would have barred suspensions for defiance.

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