A 12-year-old girl who didn't tuck in her shirt was suspended from an Albuquerque middle school, KOAT-TV reported.

Judy Benavidez said her daughter, Natalia, is a good student and not a troublemaker.

But Natalia is on a three-day suspension from Harrison Middle School because her shirt was untucked.

A school district spokesman said a special announcement was made this year that students could be suspended for dress code violations.

"My daughter doesn't deserve to be sitting at home for three days for having her shirt untucked," Benavidez said. "The school is not doing her any justice by having her sit at home on vacation when there are so many things she could be doing here at school."

Benavidez said she realizes her daughter shouldn't have had her shirt untucked, but she also said the school should have notified her before disciplining Natalia.

"It actually requires a parent-teacher conference before there's even a suspension, and we've never received that," Benavidez said.

A school district spokesman said the district can't discuss individual discipline cases.

As far as notifying the parents first, district officials said that even though district policy requires a parent-teacher conference prior to suspension, schools can set their own discipline policies.

For Benavidez, the situation is hard to believe.

"It just boggles my mind to think that she was sent home for something so nonconsequential," Benavidez said.

When contacted about the incident, the school's principal, Christine Eisenberg, said, "I've told the kids, 'We've been in school eight weeks now. Teachers have individually reminded you; I have individually reminded you.' So any student caught not following the dress code will have consequences leading up to suspension."

Eighteen other students at the school have also been suspended for three days for violating the dress code.