Advocates pushing bill to reduce school suspensions they say unfairly impact black students

Originally published in Daily News

ALBANY — Hoping to curb the disturbingly high disciplinary rate for black students, a group of high school students and other advocates pushed on Monday for the passage of a bill to overhaul school disciplinary rules.

The students, civil rights advocates, and legislators were in Albany to push a bill that would ban the suspension of students from kindergarten through third grade, prohibit suspensions for minor infractions, and limit long-term suspensions to 20 days, down from 180.

The bill also urges alternatives to suspensions and would require schools to create a code of conduct for students, employees and visitors “that promote a safe and supportive learning environment.”

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