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Student Discipline From A to Z

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Title: Student Discipline From A to Z


1
Student Discipline From A to Z
  • Andrea G. Erard, Esq.
  • VSBA School Law Conference
  • June 6, 2008
  • Charlottesville, Virginia

2
John Forest Dillon
3
John Forest Dillon
  • Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court almost
    110 years ago.
  • Author of the Dillon Rule.
  • The Dillon Rule was adopted by the Virginia
    Supreme Court just before the turn of the 19th
    century.

4
John Forest Dillon
  • The Dillon Rule is a rule of statutory
    construction that is used in interpreting state
    law when there is a question as to whether or not
    a School Board has a certain power.
  • Dillons Rule construes grants of power very
    narrowly. The bottom line is that if there is a
    question about a School Boards power or
    authority, then the School Board does not receive
    the benefit of the doubt.

5
John Forest Dillon
  • Under Dillons Rule, the assumption is that a
    School Board does NOT have the power in question.
  • Dillons Rule limits the authority that can be
    exercised by School Boards in disciplining
    students.

6
Options for School Boards in Disciplining
Students-Overview
7
Corporal Punishment Prohibited
  • Corporal punishment" means the infliction of,
    or causing the infliction of, physical pain on a
    student as a means of discipline. Virginia Code
    22.1-279.1.

8
Authority of School BoardsRemoval from Class
  • Teachers have the authority to remove disruptive
    students from class. ("Disruptive behavior"
    means a violation of school board regulations
    governing student conduct that interrupts or
    obstructs the learning environment.)
  • The principal is required to ensure that any
    student who is removed from class for disruptive
    behavior continues to receive an education,
    unless and until, that student is suspended or
    expelled from school attendance. Virginia Code
    22.1-276.2

9
Authority of School BoardsShort term/Long term
Suspensions
  • "Short-term suspension" (any disciplinary action
    whereby a student is not permitted to attend
    school for a period not to exceed ten school
    days.)
  • "Long-term suspension (any disciplinary action
    whereby a student is not permitted to attend
    school for more than ten school days, but less
    than 365 calendar days.)

10
Authority of School BoardsExpulsions
  • "Expulsion (any disciplinary action imposed by
    a school board or a committee thereof, as
    provided in school board policy, whereby a
    student is not permitted to attend school within
    the school division and is ineligible for
    readmission for 365 calendar days after the date
    of the expulsion. )

11
Authority of School BoardsAlternative Education
Program
  • Under some circumstances, a School Board can
    require that a student attend an alternative
    education program.

12
Authority of School BoardsSubstance Abuse
Evaluations
  • School Boards may require any student who has
    been found to have been in possession of, or
    under the influence of, drugs or alcohol on a
    school bus, on school property, or at a
    school-sponsored activity in violation of school
    board policies, to undergo evaluation for drug or
    alcohol abuse, or both, and, if recommended by
    the evaluator and with the consent of the
    student's parent, to participate in a treatment
    program.

13
Authority of School BoardsExclusions
  • "Exclusion" means a School Board's denial of
    school admission to a student who has been
    expelled, or has been placed on a long-term
    suspension of more than thirty calendar days by
    another school board or a private school, either
    in Virginia or another state, or for whom
    admission has been withdrawn by a private school
    in Virginia or another state.

14
(No Transcript)
15
Requirements Related to Disciplinary Options of
School Boards
16
Student Suspensions/Expulsions
  • Sufficient cause is required to suspend or
    expel a student. Virginia Code 22.1-277.

17
Suspensions/Expulsions
  • When the Superintendent receives a report of an
    adjudication of delinquency or a conviction for
    certain types of offenses, a student may be
    suspended or expelled from school attendance.

18
Suspensions/Expulsions Certain Types of Offenses
  • 1. A firearm offense pursuant to Article 4 (
    18.2-279 et seq.), 5 ( 18.2-288 et seq.), 6 (
    18.2-299 et seq.), or 7 ( 18.2-308 et seq.) of
    Chapter 7 of Title 18.2
  • 2. Homicide, pursuant to Article 1 ( 18.2-30
    et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2
  • 3. Felonious assault and bodily wounding,
    pursuant to Article 4 ( 18.2-51 et seq.) of
    Chapter 4 of Title 18.2
  • 4. Criminal sexual assault, pursuant to Article
    7 ( 18.2-61 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title
    18.2
  • 5. Manufacture, sale, gift, distribution or
    possession of Schedule I or II controlled
    substances, pursuant to Article 1 ( 18.2-247 et
    seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2

19
Suspensions/Expulsions Certain Types of Offenses
  • 6. Manufacture, sale or distribution of
    marijuana pursuant to Article 1 ( 18.2-247 et
    seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2
  • 7. Arson and related crimes, pursuant to
    Article 1 ( 18.2-77 et seq.) of Chapter 5 of
    Title 18.2
  • 8. Burglary and related offenses, pursuant to
    18.2-89 through 18.2-93
  • 9. Robbery pursuant to 18.2-58
  • 10. Prohibited street gang participation
    pursuant to 18.2-46.2
  • 11. Prohibited criminal street gang activity
    pursuant to 18.2-46.2
  • 12. Recruitment of other juveniles for a
    criminal street gang activity pursuant to
    18.2-46.3 or
  • 13. Recruitment of juveniles for criminal street
    gang pursuant to 18.2-46.3.

20
Short-term SuspensionsProcedure
  • Students may be suspended for up to ten school
    days by either the school principal, any
    assistant principal, or, in their absence, any
    teacher.
  • The principal, assistant principal, or teacher
    may suspend the pupil after giving the pupil oral
    or written notice of the charges against him and,
    if he denies them, an explanation of the facts as
    known to school personnel and an opportunity to
    present his version of what occurred. Virginia
    Code 22.1-277.04.

21
Short-term Suspensions Procedure
  • In the case of any student whose presence poses
    a continuing danger to persons or property, or
    whose presence is an ongoing threat of
    disruption, the student may be removed from
    school immediately and the notice, explanation of
    facts, and opportunity to present his version
    shall be given as soon as practicable thereafter.
    22.1-277.04.

22
Short-term Suspensions Procedure
  • When a student is short-term suspended, the
    principal, assistant principal, or teacher
    responsible for the suspension is required to
    report the facts of the case in writing to the
    Superintendent or his designee and the parent of
    the student suspended.

23
Short-term Suspensions Procedure
  • The oral or written notice to the parent of a
    student who is short-term suspended must include
  • Notification of the length of the suspension,
  • Information regarding the availability of
    community-based educational programs, alternative
    education programs or other educational options
    (The costs of any community-based educational
    program, or alternative education program or
    educational option, which is not a part of the
    educational program offered by the school
    division, is at the expense of the parent of the
    student. ), and
  • The student's right to return to regular school
    attendance upon the expiration of the suspension.

24
Short-term SuspensionsAppeals
  • Upon a petition by any party in interest for
    review of the short-term suspension by the
    Superintendent or his/her designee, the
    Superintendent or his designee is required to
    promptly review the action taken by the
    principal, assistant principal, or teacher and
    confirm or disapprove the action based on an
    examination of the record of the student's
    behavior.

25
Short-term SuspensionsAppeals
  • The decision of the Superintendent or his
    designee may be appealed to the School Board, or
    a committee thereof, in accordance with
    regulations of the School Board however, the
    decision of the Superintendent or his designee
    shall be final if so prescribed by School Board
    regulations.

26
Caveat
  • 22.1-87. Judicial review.
  • Any parent, custodian, or legal guardian of a
    pupil attending the public schools in a school
    division who is aggrieved by an action of the
    school board may, within thirty days after such
    action, petition the circuit court having
    jurisdiction in the school division to review the
    action of the school board. Such review shall
    proceed upon the petition, the minutes of the
    meeting at which the school board's action was
    taken, the orders, if any, of the school board,
    an attested copy of the transcript, if any, of
    any hearing before the school board, and any
    other evidence found relevant to the issues on
    appeal by the court. The action of the school
    board shall be sustained unless the school board
    exceeded its authority, acted arbitrarily or
    capriciously, or abused its discretion.

27
Long-term SuspensionsProcedure
  • A student may be long-term suspended after
    providing written notice to the student and his
    parent of the proposed action and the reasons,
    and of the right to a hearing before the School
    Board, or a committee thereof, or the
    Superintendent or his designee, in accordance
    with regulations of the School Board.

28
Long-term SuspensionsProcedure
  • If the School Boards regulations provide for a
    hearing by the Superintendent or his designee,
    the regulations must also provide for an appeal
    of the decision to the full School Board. The
    School Board must decide these appeals within
    thirty days.

29
Long-term SuspensionsProcedure
  • A School Board must include in the written
    notice of a proposed long-term suspension
  • the proposed length of the long-term suspension
  • information concerning the availability of
    community-based educational, alternative
    education, or intervention programs (The costs of
    any community-based educational program, or
    alternative education program or educational
    option, which is not a part of the educational
    program offered by the school division, is at the
    expense of the parent of the student.)
  • indicate that the student is eligible to return
    to regular school attendance upon the expiration
    of the suspension or to attend an appropriate
    alternative education program approved by the
    School Board during or upon the expiration of the
    suspension.

30
Long-term SuspensionsProcedure
  • If the regulations provide for a hearing by a
    committee of the School Board, the regulations
    must also provide that the committee may confirm
    or disapprove the suspension of a student. Any
    such committee of the School Board must be
    composed of at least three members. If the
    committee's decision is not unanimous, the
    student or his parent may appeal the committee's
    decision to the full School Board. The appeal
    must be decided by the School Board within thirty
    days.

31
Long-term Suspensions
  • The School Board may permit or require that
    students who are long-term suspended attend an
    alternative education program provided by the
    School Board for the duration of the long-term
    suspension.

32
Expulsions
  • "Expulsion --any disciplinary action imposed by
    a School Board or a committee thereof, as
    provided in School Board policy, whereby a
    student is not permitted to attend school within
    the school division and is ineligible for
    readmission for 365 calendar days after the date
    of the expulsion.

33
ExpulsionsProcedure
  • Recommendations for expulsion for actions other
    than for firearms or drugs pursuant to the zero
    tolerance statutes, must be based on
    consideration of the following factors
  • 1. The nature and seriousness of the violation
  • 2. The degree of danger to the school community
  • 3. The student's disciplinary history, including
    the seriousness and number of previous
    infractions
  • 4. The appropriateness and availability of an
    alternative education placement or program
  • 5. The student's age and grade level
  • 6. The results of any mental health, substance
    abuse, or special education assessments
  • 7. The student's attendance and academic records
    and
  • 8. Such other matters as he deems appropriate.

34
Mandatory Expulsions
  • In compliance with the federal Improving
    America's Schools Act of 1994 (Part F-Gun-Free
    Schools Act of 1994), School Boards are required
    to expel from school attendance for a period of
    not less than one year any student whom such
    school board has determined, to have possessed a
    firearm on school property or at a
    school-sponsored activity as prohibited by
    18.2-308.1 to have possessed a firearm or
    destructive device as defined in subsection E, a
    firearm muffler or firearm silencer, or a
    pneumatic gun as defined in subsection E of
    15.2-915.4 on school property or at a
    school-sponsored activity.
  • A school administrator, pursuant to school board
    policy, or a School Board may, however,
    determine, based on the facts of a particular
    situation, that special circumstances exist and
    no disciplinary action or another disciplinary
    action or another term of expulsion is
    appropriate.

35
Mandatory Expulsions
  • School boards are required to expel any student
    whom the School Board has determined, to have
    brought a controlled substance, imitation
    controlled substance, or marijuana as defined in
    18.2-247 onto school property or to a
    school-sponsored activity.
  • A School Board may, however, determine, based on
    the facts of the particular case, that special
    circumstances exist and another disciplinary
    action is appropriate.
  • A School Board may, by regulation, authorize the
    Superintendent or his designee to conduct a
    preliminary review of such cases to determine
    whether a disciplinary action other than
    expulsion is appropriate.

36
ExpulsionProcedure
  • Students may be expelled from attendance at
    school after written notice to the student and
    his parent of the proposed action, the reasons
    for the proposed action, and of the right to a
    hearing before the School Board or a committee of
    the School Board in accordance with regulations
    of the School Board.

37
ExpulsionsProcedure
  • The written notice must include notification of
    the length of the expulsion and must provide
    information to the parent of the student
    concerning the availability of community-based
    educational, training, and intervention programs.
    (The costs of any community-based educational,
    training, or intervention program that is not a
    part of the educational program offered by the
    school division that the student may attend
    during his expulsion must be borne by the parent
    of the student.)
  • The notice must also state whether or not the
    student is eligible to return to regular school
    attendance, or to attend an appropriate
    alternative education program approved by the
    School Board, or an adult education program
    offered by the school division, during or upon
    the expiration of the expulsion, and the terms or
    conditions of such readmission.

38
ExpulsionsProcedure
  • If the regulations provide for a hearing by a
    committee of the School Board, the regulations
    must also provide that the committee may confirm
    or disapprove the expulsion of a student. Any
    committee of the School Board must be composed of
    at least three members. If the committee's
    decision is not unanimous, the student or his
    parent may appeal the committee's decision to the
    full School Board. The appeal must be decided by
    the School Board within 30 days.
  • The regulations must also provide for subsequent
    confirmation or disapproval of the proposed
    expulsion by the School Board, or a committee
    thereof, as may be provided in regulation,
    regardless of whether the student exercised the
    right to a hearing.

39
ExpulsionsProcedure
  • If the School Board determines that the student
    is ineligible to return to regular school
    attendance or to attend an alternative education
    program or an adult education program in the
    school division during the expulsion, the written
    notice must also advise the parent of the student
    that the student may petition the School Board
    for readmission to be effective one calendar year
    from the date of his expulsion, and of the
    conditions, if any, under which readmission may
    be granted.

40
Expulsions
  • School Boards may permit or require that
    students who are expelled attend an alternative
    education program provided by the School Board
    for the term of the expulsion.

41
Alternative EducationProcedure
  • A School Board may adopt regulations authorizing
    the Superintendent or his designee to require
    students to attend an alternative education
    program in certain circumstances after
  • (i) written notice to the student and his parent
    that the student will be required to attend an
    alternative education program and
  • (ii) notice of the opportunity for the student or
    his parent to participate in a hearing to be
    conducted by the division superintendent or his
    designee.
  • The decision of the Superintendent or his
    designee regarding the alternative education
    placement shall be final unless altered by the
    School Board, upon timely written petition, as
    established in regulation, by the student or his
    parent, for a review of the record by the School
    Board.

42
Requiring Attendance at Alternative Education
Program
  • A School Board may require any student who has
    been charged with an offense relating to the
    Commonwealth's laws, or with a violation of
    school board policies, on weapons, alcohol or
    drugs, or intentional injury to another person to
    attend an alternative education program.

43
Requiring Attendance at Alternative Education
Program
  • A School Board may require any student who is
    found guilty or not innocent of an offense
    relating to the Commonwealth's laws on weapons,
    alcohol, or drugs, or of a crime that resulted in
    or could have resulted in injury to others to
    attend an alternative education program.

44
Requiring Attendance at Alternative Education
Program
  • A School Board may require any student who has
    been adjudicated delinquent, convicted, found not
    guilty or has had charges reduced relating to any
    of the following offenses, regardless of where
    the crime occurred, to attend an alternative
    education program
  • A firearm offense
  • Homicide
  • Felonious assault and bodily wounding
  • Criminal sexual assault
  • Manufacture, sale, gift, distribution or
    possession of Schedule I or II controlled
    substances

45
Requiring Attendance at Alternative Education
Program
  • A School Board may require any student who has
    been adjudicated delinquent, convicted, found not
    guilty or has had charges reduced relating to any
    of the following offenses, regardless of where
    the crime occurred, to attend an alternative
    education program
  • Manufacture, sale or distribution of marijuana
  • Arson and related crimes
  • Burglary and related offenses
  • Robbery
  • street gang participation
  • criminal street gang activity
  • Recruitment of other juveniles for a criminal
    street gang activity
  • Recruitment of juveniles for criminal street gang

46
Requiring Attendance at Alternative Education
Program
  • A School Board may require any student who is
    found to have committed a serious offense or
    repeated offenses in violation of school board
    policies, or who has been long-term suspended or
    expelled, to attend an alternative education
    program.

47
Exclusions
  • A student who has been expelled or suspended for
    more than thirty days from attendance at school
    by a School Board or a private school in Virginia
    or in another state, or for whom admission has
    been withdrawn by a private school in Virginia or
    in another state, may be excluded from attendance
    by a local school board in Virginia, regardless
    of whether such student has been admitted to
    another school division or private school in
    Virginia or in another state subsequent to such
    expulsion, suspension, or withdrawal of
    admission, upon a finding that the student
    presents a danger to the other students or staff
    of the school division.

48
Exclusions
  • Before excluding a student there must be a
    written notice to the parent and the student of
    the proposed exclusion. The notice must include
    the reasons for the proposed exclusion. The
    notice must also state that, in the event of a
    decision to exclude, there is a right to appeal
    the decision at a hearing before the School Board
    or a committee of the School Board. Lastly, the
    notice must state that a review of the case has
    been conducted by the Superintendent or his
    designee and that the exclusion has been
    recommended.

49
Exclusions
  • In the case of a suspension of more than thirty
    days, the term of the exclusion may not exceed
    the duration of such suspension.
  • In excluding any expelled student from school
    attendance, the School Board may accept or waive
    any or all of any conditions for readmission
    imposed upon such student by the expelling School
    Board. (The excluding School Board cannot impose
    additional conditions for readmission to school.)

50
Exclusions
  • If the decision by the Superintendent or his
    designee to exclude has been appealed to a
    committee of the School Board, the student or his
    parent must be provided written notice of the
    right to appeal the decision to the full board,
    which shall, within thirty days following any
    such hearing, in the case of an expulsion or
    withdrawal of admission and, in the case of a
    suspension of more than thirty days, within
    fifteen days following any such hearing, notify
    in writing the student or his parent of its
    decision.

51
Exclusions
  • Alternatively, a School Board may adopt
    regulations providing that a student may be
    excluded from attendance after
  • (i) written notice to the student and his parent
    that the student may be subject to exclusion,
    including the reasons therefor, and notice of the
    opportunity for the student or his parent to
    participate in a hearing to be conducted by the
    Superintendent or his designee regarding the
    exclusion and
  • (ii) a hearing of the case has been conducted by
    the Superintendent or his designee, and the
    decision has been to exclude the student from
    attendance. The decision of the Superintendent or
    his designee to exclude is final unless altered
    by the School Board, upon timely written
    petition, as established in regulation, of the
    student so excluded or his parent, for a review
    of the record by the School Board.

52
Exclusions
  • Upon the expiration of the exclusion period for
    an expulsion or a withdrawal of admission, which
    period shall be established by the School Board,
    committee thereof, or Superintendent or his
    designee, the student may re-petition the School
    Board for admission. If the petition for
    admission is rejected, the School Board must
    identify the length of the continuing exclusion
    period and the subsequent date upon which such
    student may re-petition the School Board for
    admission.

53
Exclusions
  • The School Board may permit students excluded to
    attend an alternative education program provided
    by the School Board for the term of the
    exclusion.

54
Conducting Student Discipline Hearings
  • Rules of evidence do not apply.
  • School Board sits as the Judge School Board is
    the decision-maker in terms of deciding what
    information is relevant.
  • When the School Board is deliberating privately,
    both the school administration and the student
    and his parents should be out of the room.
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