What’s detention? A Florida school district reviews its code of conduct
Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek | March 4, 2026
The big story: What’s a student supposed to do when assigned to detention?
The question arose this week as Pasco County school board members reviewed proposed updates to their student code of conduct, an annual activity that’s happening now in districts across Florida.
“We added some information … to clarify that kids could do something during detention time to maybe learn or reteach or do some different kind of activity than just sit,” Robin Hawk, Pasco’s supervisor of behavior accountability, told the board Tuesday.
A district review team recommended including work detail, resiliency skills and restorative strategies among the possibilities. Chairperson Colleen Beaudoin said she was all for allowing students to do course work and resiliency activities during their time out of class.
She balked at the concept of restorative strategies, though, noting how that avenue lately has gained a negative connotation. Board member Jessica Wright agreed that detention — generally a consequence for lesser violations such as excessive tardiness — should be a productive time, so students take it seriously.
“If not, they’re just going to have their heads on their desk and sleep,” said board member Megan Harding.
Board member Cynthia Armstrong wasn’t fully convinced. A teacher during the 1980s, Armstrong said students should not be able to use the time to do their homework, as it simply frees up more time for them to have fun at home.
“When they had to clean erasers, that was something I had them do,” Armstrong said. “But the thing that was the most effective to me, I sat up front, they had to sit at their desk. Their hands had to be flat on the table. They had to sit upright. Any time they raised their hands or put their head down, it added five minutes to their detention. That was effective.”
Hawk suggested times have changed. Students are so social, she said, that removing them from their social setting is “pretty much the greatest punishment.” The board asked her to reword the section in time for its code of conduct adoption later in March.
