Newsom signs bill banning willful defiance suspensions for middle, high school students

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 274 on Sunday, putting an end to suspensions for “willful defiance” for middle and high school students, as well as suspensions and expulsions due to tardiness or truancy, the Los Angeles Times reported.

California law already banned suspensions for “willful defiance” among elementary school students – and those opposing “willful defiance” suspensions have argued the disciplinary tool has been used as a justification to punish students for smaller infractions, such as talking back to a teacher, and disproportionately impact students of color.

“Instead of kicking them out of school, we owe it to students to figure out what’s causing them to act out and help them fix it,” Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), author of the bill, said in July, the Times reported. “The punishment for missing school should not be to miss more school. Students, especially those with behavioral issues, need to be in school where teachers and counselors can help them succeed.”