Suspension (punishment)

California's statewide graduation rate reached 87.9% in the 2025-26 school year, the highest in ten years, according to the California School Dashboard released by the state Department of Education. Chronic absenteeism fell to 18.3%, down from a pandemic-era peak near 30%, but remains above pre-pandemic levels. Suspension rates dipped slightly to 2.8%, continuing a gradual multi-year decline.

Despite the overall gains, disparities persist: Black, Native American, Pacific Islander and Hispanic students, along with foster youth, homeless students, English learners and students with disabilities, continued to face higher rates of absenteeism and suspension than statewide averages. The statewide graduation figure was also dragged down by two troubled charter schools, including Highlands Community Charter, which recently filed for bankruptcy amid a $180 million funding dispute. College readiness metrics improved modestly, with more graduates meeting CSU/UC entrance requirements and earning distinctions like the State Seal of Biliteracy. Officials and education experts called the trends encouraging but said deeper, more targeted interventions are still needed to close persistent gaps.

A Pitchess motion dispute in Long Beach has revealed that former officer Erik Suarez pleaded guilty to misdemeanor aggravated battery in 2022 over a 2019 Waffle House beating in Cobb County, Georgia, a conviction that was not disclosed to defendant Lonnie Jacobs, whom Suarez arrested on a drug charge. Defense attorney Scott Sanders argues the Long Beach Police Department and district attorney's office had an obligation under Brady v. Maryland to disclose the conviction and is seeking Suarez's full personnel file, alleging a pattern of concealment. Records show Suarez also received department discipline in 2023 for unnecessary force after punching a handcuffed man, an incident the DA's office declined to prosecute without knowing of the Georgia conviction.

Suarez left the LBPD in June, shortly before a subpoena attempt, and was hired by the Burbank Police Department in July. Long Beach officials have resisted broader disclosure, calling Sanders' request overly broad. A judge continued the case to Nov. 12 to consider the renewed motion.

The Volusia County School Board is voting on proposed changes to its Code of Student Conduct and Discipline for the upcoming school year, adding more specific consequences for vaping and reclassifying fighting offenses by severity. Under the new policy, a first vaping violation would require students to complete a district-approved vape education course, alongside possible in-school or out-of-school suspension. Students who fail to complete the course within 45 days, or who commit subsequent violations, would face 45 days in Alternative Education or Off-Campus Instruction; expulsion is not listed as a specific vaping consequence. The changes follow an 80% jump in vaping referrals from 2023 to 2024.

Fighting would be tiered by severity: minor altercations without injury are Level 2 offenses with escalating detention and suspension penalties, while fights requiring physical intervention or medical attention are Level 3, potentially leading to alternative placement or expulsion recommendations. Battery-level conduct is classified as Level 4, requiring an expulsion recommendation.