Professional Report

all) of the days to the following school term.

There are two basic requirements prior to the suspension. First, the student must be given an “opportunity” to appear at an informal hearing before the administrator issuing the suspension in order to challenge the reason for the suspension. Second, if the suspension is for a reason that could lead to permanent exclusion from school and if the student is at least 16 years old, the written notice of suspension must contain a statement that the superintendent may seek to have the student permanently excluded if the pupil is convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for that particular violation. (Please see Exclusion from School, Student above.)

The two requirements noted immediately above apparently do not apply to an in-school suspension.

A board of education may by a majority vote of its full membership or by the action of its designee, affirm the order of suspension or expulsion or may reinstate such pupil or otherwise reverse, vacate, or modify the order of suspension or expulsion. Law provides that an expulsion may carry over the end of a semester and may last for up to 80 days and that an expulsion or suspension may extend into following school year.

Public service in lieu of suspension or expulsion is also permitted.

A superintendent is authorized to expel a student for one year for bringing a firearm onto school property or to a school activity (including extra-curricular activities), even if held on other than school property. The board policy may also authorize the superintendent to expel a student for up to one year for bringing a knife onto school-controlled property or to a school activity or for possessing a knife or firearm brought on school-controlled property or to a school activity by another person. The Board may also adopt a policy authorizing the Superintendent to expel for up to one year a student making a bomb threat to a school or to any premise at which a school activity is occurring at the time of the threat. The board also may, by policy, grant assistant principals “and other administrators” the authority to suspend for up to 10 days. The board also may grant, by policy, the authority for the superintendent to expel for up to one year a student who commits a criminal offense and who causes serious physical harm to persons or property. Again, the act by the student could have been committed on school property or at a school activity not held on school property. Any expulsions will still be implemented even if the student seeks to withdraw from school before the implementation of the expulsion. Other school districts may deny admission to a student during the period of suspension or expulsion. Suspension, expulsion, and permanent exclusion also may be authorized by a board for misconduct directed at a district official or employee (or the property of such official or employee) if the misconduct is “connected” to activities or incidents that occurred on school-controlled property. The superintendent may reduce the expulsion if the policy provides reasons for which the superintendent may reduce the expulsion.

A board also may adopt a policy authorizing the superintendent, other