Can my school deny my enrollment just cause I was incarcerated?

[meandmyself3492]

I live in Escambia County, Florida. I just got out of a juvenile program towards the beginning of July, and one of the things I was looking forward to the most was enrolling in my old school.

I'm seventeen years old, supposed to be a senior this year, but four credits behind, because the schooling in programs suck. I have a 3.0 GPA, took Honors courses before I was arrested, but have a lengthy face sheet-which is sealed to the public.

I'm on probation, they call in post-commitment probation, and in order to enroll, my probation officer told me that I had to work through an Educational Coordinator with the School District and the Department of Juvenile Justice. He took my transcript, and began the process of enrolling me in the school which I'm zoned to go to. From what he said the principal didn't exactly like it, but he was gonna give me a chance, I just had to have a meeting with the principal. The morning I was supposed to go my mother got a call from the Ed. Coordinator, he said that the principal kicked the decision up to the school board, and the guy at the school board said that I can't return to my old school, that I have to go to an alternative school, because I have so many charges, but after a semester they might let me come back to regular school, if I've behaved in the alternative school.

Is that legal? For them to not let me come back to school just cause of some charges? It seems like a form of discrimination to me.

[LeeHarveyBlotto]

Originally Posted by meandmyself3492

It seems like a form of discrimination to me.

Criminals are not a legally protected group.

[TheGeekess]

Students without a rap sheet have rights, too.

Behave yourself at the alternative school.

[meandmyself3492]

Okay, I realize that the safety of other kids needs to be considered, but I have no battery or assault charges. My charges are all property crimes. And I did my time, I think punishing me even further is overkill.

[cbg]

What you think is immaterial. The only issue is, is it legal? The answer is, yes, it is.

What you are failing to take into consideration is that most discrimination is 100% legal.

[Ohiogal]

Originally Posted by meandmyself3492

Okay, I realize that the safety of other kids needs to be considered, but I have no battery or assault charges. My charges are all property crimes. And I did my time, I think punishing me even further is overkill.

Nope. You are not being punished further. You are dealing with the consequences of being a juvenile criminal who has no respect for the law. Be aware that colleges can also discriminate against you as can whole professions -- you may not be able to have a career in the military, law enforcement, or teaching. You may be excluded from various careers due to your lack of respect for the law.