The Michigan State Board of Education deadlocked along party lines Tuesday on a model student code of conduct.
The major issue was protecting students from discrimination based on their gender identity.
Republicans voted against the policy and gender identity protections. Democrats were for it. The policy would not be mandatory, but would have offered guidance to schools trying to comply with a new state law. It gives school officials more flexibility in disciplining students than the former “zero tolerance” standard.
Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Whiston says the state Department of Education will go back to work on a model policy. He says schools will have to develop their own policies in the meantime.
“But certainly the state board on these types of issues want to provide guidance, as well. So we’ll come back with something.”
Republican Richard Zeile was a “no” vote. He says adding “gender identity” to the policy is an invitation for a legal challenge.
“And, once again, the courts are called in to sort these things out, and that’s just an unnecessary distraction from the educational project.”
Kyle Guerrant is with the state Department of Education. He says schools may need to update their policies with classes beginning in just a few weeks.
“So, it’s probably a mixed bag of who may need to update, and who already has.”
Guerrant say the department will go back and draft a new model code of student conduct, and bring it back to the board.