SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Black lawmakers have promised legislation to make school discipline codes uniform statewide following the uproar over a school board's decision to expel students after a football game brawl.
School authorities, pressured by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, have since agreed to cut the two-year expulsions by half, with the students allowed to attend alternative school programs during that year.Jackson accompanied six of the students to enroll in alternative schools Thursday but maintained they should be eligible to attend regular schools as early as January if they do well.
More than a dozen members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus said they would have legislation prepared before the end of the fall session that would establish a panel to develop common discipline rules.
"There is not a uniform way in which discipline is meted out statewide because of the autonomy of these local boards," said Democratic Sen. Donne Trotter of Chicago, the caucus leader. "We propose a bill to clarify some of those things that caused some of the problems in Decatur."
The caucus' recommendations would require school boards to define "zero tolerance," ensure students get fair disciplinary hearings, offer alternative education and require teachers and school board members to get more training on being sensitive to minorities' needs.
All of the expelled students were black, although Jackson has said the issue is about fairness, not race.
Five of the students were expelled for two years and the sixth withdrew from school after the Sept. 17 brawl. Another student who was expelled has moved out of state. Three of the students also face criminal charges.
During the past two weeks, Jackson has led marches, prayer vigils and rallies and was even arrested during a school confrontation.
A Macon County judge continued until Tuesday a hearing on a school board request to bar Jackson and others from demonstrating near the schools during school hours. Jackson's attorney, Lewis Myers, said no demonstrations were planned through Tuesday.