Hempstead Independent School District (ISD) in Texas has confirmed that a middle school principal has been placed on leave after Hispanic students said that she forbid the entire school from speaking Spanish.

A group of students told KHOU that Hempstead Middle School Principal Amy Lacey announced over the intercom on Nov. 12 that they were no longer to use their native language in order to “prevent disruptions.”

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It was over two weeks later before the superintendent sent a letter home insisting that “neither the district or any campus has any policy prohibiting the speaking of Spanish.”

But the students said that the effect of the ban had been chilling.

“People don’t want to speak it no more, and they don’t want to get caught speaking it because they’re going to get in trouble,” sixth-grade student Kiara Lozano explained to KHOU.

Some students felt that the principal gave teachers permission to discriminate against them.

“She was like no speaking Spanish,” eighth-grader Yedhany Gallegos recalled. “I was like that’s my first language. She said, well you can get out.”

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Hempstead ISD spokesperson Laurie Bettis said in a statement that Lacey had been placed on leave while the district investigated the charges.

“The district has received allegations regarding this issue and the district is investigating the matter,” Bettis wrote. “At this time the administrator is on administrative leave with pay until the investigation is completed and appropriate action is determined. This is all we can say at this time as there is a pending investigation on this matter.”

“The district is committed to efficiently and effectively resolving this matter with as little disruption to our students and their learning environment as possible.”

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Watch this video from KHOU, broadcast Dec. 2, 2013.