Student Stories - Julio

When suspended from middle school for more than a year, Julio was heartbroken. He liked school and looked forward to walking through the front door each morning. Julio was punished for bringing a BB gun to school, the same type of gun that Julio's father allowed his older brother to play with in the house. To Julio, it was just a toy like his older brother's. But under the law, a BB gun is considered a weapon. Julio was suspended and a Superintendent's Hearing was scheduled to determine his guilt and possible punishment.

Julio's father, Mr. T, was caught off guard by the news of his son's pending hearing, learning of it only the night before. Distraught and unsure of what was at stake, Mr. T refused the opportunity to obtain representation for his son. Julio was suspended for 13 months beginning in December and continuing until the following February. As required by law for suspended students under the age of 17, Julio was to receive two hours of tutoring a day instead.

After the shock wore off, Mr. T sought help and contacted Student Advocacy. When his Educational Advocate contacted the school, she pointed out that had Mr. T understood the stakes of the Superintendent's Hearing, he would have obtained representation. Our advocate also enclosed a letter from Julio, pleading for a second chance: “I am really sorry, I just want another chance because I miss my friends and teachers and the school.” Student Advocacy successfully convinced the school to reconsider the punishment, ultimately cutting the suspension in half and gaining Julio's re-entrance to the school the following fall.