Florence NAACP Files Complaint With U.S. Dept. of Education Against Florence One Zero Tolerance Policy

The Florence Branch of the NAACP commends the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights for launching an investigation into Florence School District One's zero tolerance policy. The Department of Education announced this decision on September 8, 2022 in response to the Title VI Complaint filed by the branch. This investigation is a significant step in the nearly year-long battle against the District's discriminatory and harmful zero-tolerance policy.

On December 9, 2021, despite clear and overwhelming disapproval from community members, Florence District One School Board passed a zero­ tolerance policy that made physical violence or fighting, grounds for automatic recommendation for expulsion to the Board. Prior to the passage of the policy, the Florence Branch of the NAACP sent a letter to the Board and its members, highlighting its concerns about the harm such a policy would have on students, especially students of color. In particular, the letter raised the fact that there is overwhelming data suggesting that such policies fail to reduce violence and instead are disproportionately harmful for students of color. Despite these efforts, the policy moved forward and went into effect. Almost immediately, the Florence Branch received numerous complaints from parents and students about the impact of the policy. The Branch quickly raised these concerns with the Board, Superintendent O'Malley, and State Superintendent Molly Spearman in a series of letters earlier this year.

On June 10, 2022, after attempts to discuss the policy with the Board proved futile, the Florence Branch filed a Title VI Complaint with the Department of Education asking the Department to investigate the District's zero-tolerance policy. At this time, the Florence Branch is actively working to further the investigation and monitor the enforcement and impact of the zero-tolerance policy.

The Florence Branch is deeply committed to ensuring all students in Florence One have access to safe and equitable learning environments.