Buffalo Schools Now Required To Make Major Changes To Suspension Policy

After several years of community action trying to get New York State's second-largest public school to change its policy and practices surrounding when students are suspended and removed from school, a new order from the Empire State's chief law enforcement officer is now forcing a change.

In a press release on Thursday, February 12, 2026, New York State Attorney General Letitia James released the results of a several-year-long investigation into a long-standing practice of the Buffalo Public Schools disproportionately suspending students of color and students with disabilities.

Every child deserves to feel safe and supported at school, and every family deserves to be heard and treated fairly... For too long, too many Buffalo students were denied that right. Today, we are taking a major step to bring accountability and justice to Buffalo Public Schools’ disciplinary system. My office will continue working to ensure all New York students have an equal opportunity to learn and thrive.
-Letitia James, New York State Attorney General

After the investigation into the City of Buffalo Public Schools was complete, officials from the BPS reached a settlement agreement with the Attorney General to make some significant changes in the way students are treated in the city's public schools. In the 58-page settlement agreement, the facts of disparate and illegal treatment were laid out along with a plan to improve things in Buffalo's public schools.

Over the next four years, Buffalo Schools will have an independent monitor who will work with the district to make sure the settlement agreement is complied with, along with hiring a Discipline Ombudsperson who will make sure that the rules for students are applied fairly and in compliance with all laws and agreements.

In addition to that, there are several other measures the BPS has to take going forward. Those include:

• The city must revise its student code of conduct and reform the types of discipline that are used and applied.
• All students will be given appropriate due process if they face discipline, including suspension, and be given proper alternative education options.
• School officials will make sure that "essential documents into the district’s most commonly spoken languages" and that interpreters are available for important meetings.
• Creating a dashboard that will give accurate and updated data on suspensions and discipline rates.
• Ensuring staff are trained to treat students ethically, in accordance with laws and rules, plus be given additional training on bias awareness, support for students with disabilities, and de-escalation.
• And school officials will be required to present forums for the school community to give input and feedback to ensure every voice is considered and heard.

According to the Buffalo News, this has been a long time coming, as advocates in Buffalo have been clamoring for years, requesting that Buffalo reform its policies.

Since 2014, the schools in Buffalo have suspended as much as 13% of their student population each year, which, by many accounts, is excessive.