School discipline policies are changing yet again, with new federal action aiming to overhaul how schools handle student behavior. For families, these shifts can mean confusion, frustration, and real consequences for students' learning and safety.

If your child's rights are at stake, you need clear guidance from experienced student defense attorneys. The Lento Law firm Student Defense Team has spent years helping students around the country navigate this ever-changing landscape. Contact our offices today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.

Understanding the Latest Changes in School Discipline

In April 2025, President Trump signed an executive order directing the federal government to overhaul school discipline policies across the country. The order instructs the Education Secretary to work with the Attorney General and state officials to create new guidance for K-12 schools, emphasizing that discipline should be based strictly on student behavior, not on race or discriminatory equity ideology. The order also requires a review of current discipline practices, a report on the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and the development of a “model” discipline policy that aligns with what the administration calls “American values.”

This move is a direct response to Obama- and Biden-era policies that encouraged schools to address racial disparities in discipline. Those policies warned schools that they could lose federal funding if their policies themselves were racially neutral but resulted in disparate outcomes. Trump's new order seeks to eliminate such considerations, arguing that they have led to chaos and declining safety in schools by preventing teachers from disciplining disruptive students.

What Parents Need to Know About this New Order

With this order, students, especially those who want to learn, are getting the short end of the stick from schools that don't enforce discipline consistently. Since the pandemic, teachers and administrators have reported a sharp rise in disruptive behavior, making it harder for everyone to learn. When schools are pressured to meet “equity” targets for suspensions or expulsions, they may ignore or downplay serious misbehavior to avoid federal scrutiny, leaving classrooms less safe and more chaotic.

Additionally, behavioral problems and learning loss feed off each other. When schools fail to discipline disruptive students, the entire class suffers, test scores drop, and mental health issues multiply. This creates a vicious cycle where everyone loses, especially the students who are already struggling the most.

Moreover, parents want safe, orderly schools where their kids can learn. But when discipline policies are shaped more by federal politics than by what's happening in the classroom, parents are left guessing about what's really going on. The new order promises to bring “common sense” back to discipline, but critics warn it could lead to even wider disparities, especially for students of color and those with disabilities.

How the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team Can Help

The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team stands ready to help families navigate these turbulent times, ensuring that your child's right to learn is never sacrificed for bureaucratic convenience or political agendas.

We fight for students and parents who feel their voices aren't being heard by schools more concerned with compliance than with fairness and safety. Our experienced attorneys work diligently to ensure families understand their rights and the real impact of shifting discipline policies, whether your child is being unfairly targeted or ignored.

To hold your school accountable when they fail to protect your student's rights, contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or schedule a consultation online.