SERIES 5000: STUDENTS, CURRICULUM, AND ACADEMIC MATTERS
5200 Student Conduct and Discipline
5206A Due Process
This Policy complies with all relevant laws and rules and reflects the most common practices to address student discipline. The District will provide students due process to the extent required by state and federal law before a student is suspended or expelled. All District administrators must respect student due process rights.
If a District administrator determines that an emergency exists that requires the immediate removal of a student from school, the administrator may contact the student’s parent/guardian or local law enforcement or take other measures to have the student safely removed from school. The administrator must, as soon as practicable thereafter, follow the procedures outlined in this Policy.
A. Building Administrator – 10 or Fewer School Days
Before suspending a student for 10 or fewer school days, an administrator must: (1) provide the student verbal notice of the offense the student is suspected to have committed, and (2) provide the student an informal opportunity to explain what happened. Except in emergency circumstances, an administrator will not suspend the student unless, after providing the student notice and an opportunity to explain, the administrator is reasonably certain that the student committed a violation of the student code of conduct and that suspension is the appropriate consequence.
B. Superintendent or Designee – 59 or Fewer School Days
Before suspending a student for more than 10 school days but less than 60 school days, the Superintendent or designee must provide the parent/guardian or student with: (1) written notice of the offense the student is suspected to have committed; (2) an explanation of the evidence relied upon by the District in arriving at the conclusion that disciplinary action may be warranted; and (3) an opportunity for a hearing at which the student may present evidence and witnesses to show that the student did not commit the alleged offense or that suspension is not an appropriate consequence. The Superintendent or designee will provide the parent/guardian or student at least 3 calendar days’ notice before the hearing. The parent/guardian and student may be represented, at their cost, by an attorney or another adult advocate at the hearing. The Superintendent or designee will not suspend the student unless, following the hearing, he or she is convinced by a preponderance of the evidence that the student committed a violation of the student code of conduct and that suspension is the appropriate consequence. A Parent or student may appeal the Superintendent’s or designee’s decision to the Board. The appeal must be submitted to the Board within 3 calendar days of the decision. The Board will hear the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Board’s decision is final. The student’s suspension will run while the appeal is pending.
Board Suspension or Expulsion
Before the Board suspends or expels a student, the Superintendent or designee must provide the parent/guardian or student with: (1) written notice of the offense © 2020 the student is suspected to have committed; (2) an explanation of the evidence relied upon by the District in arriving at the conclusion that disciplinary action may be warranted; and (3) an opportunity for a Board hearing at which the student may present evidence and witnesses to show that the student did not commit the suspected offense or that suspension or expulsion is not an appropriate consequence. The Superintendent or designee will provide the parent/guardian or student at least 3 calendar days’ notice before the hearing. The parent/guardian and student may be represented, at their cost, by an attorney or another adult advocate at the hearing. The Board will not suspend or expel the student unless, following the hearing, a majority of the Board finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the student committed misconduct that should result in suspension or expulsion under either the student code of conduct or this Policy and that suspension or expulsion is the appropriate consequence. The Board’s decision is final.
Legal authority: Goss v Lopez, 419 US 565 (1975)
Date adopted: 08/09/2021
Date revised: 07/16/2024
