FOD (TSBVI) - STUDENT DISCIPLINE: EXPULSION

GENERAL

The provisions of this policy are subject to all provisions related to the change of placement for students with disabilities, including all TSBVI students, contained in TSBVI Board Policy FOF, STUDENT DISCIPLINE: STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES.

STUDENTS YOUNGER THAN TEN

A student younger than ten years of age shall not be expelled but shall be placed in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP).

Education Code 37.007(e)(2), (h)

MANDATORY EXPULSION

School Related

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student shall be expelled if the student, on school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school property:

  1. Uses, possesses, or exhibits a firearm, an illegal knife, a club, or a prohibited weapon, as those terms are defined in the Penal Code, or any knife prohibited by local policy [see FNCG];
  2. Engages in conduct that contains the elements of the offense of aggravated assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, arson, murder, capital murder, criminal attempt to commit murder or capital murder, indecency with a child, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide, as those offenses are defined in the Penal Code;
  3. Commits a drug- or alcohol-related offense described at Education Code 37.006(a)(2)(C) or (D), if that conduct is punishable as a felony.

Education Code 37.007(a)

Retaliation

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, TSBVI shall expel a student who engages in conduct that contains the elements of any offense listed above against any district employee or volunteer in retaliation for or as a result of the person's employment or association with a district, without regard to whether the conduct occurs on or off school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school property.

Education Code 37.007(d)

Firearm

In accordance with the Gun-Free Schools Act and subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, TSBVI shall expel from the student's regular program, for a period of one year, any student who is determined to have brought a firearm, as defined by federal law, to TSBVI. The Superintendent or Principal may modify the term of expulsion for a student or assess another comparable penalty that results in the student's exclusion from the regular school program, on a case-by-case basis. Any student who is younger than ten years of age and who is expelled shall be provided educational services in a DAEP. Any student who is ten years of age or older and who is expelled may be provided services in a DAEP.

20 U.S.C. 8921; Education Code 37.007(e) [See also GRA]

For the purposes of this provision, "firearm" means:

  1. Any weapon (including a starter gun), which will or is designed to or which may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive;
  2. The frame or receiver of any such weapon;
  3. Any firearm muffler or firearm silencer;
  4. Any destructive device. "Destructive device" means any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or device similar to any of the preceding described devices. It also means any type of weapon (other than a shotgun shell or a shotgun that is generally recognized as particularly suitable for sporting purposes) by whatever name known which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter; and any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into a destructive device as described in this item, and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled.

18 U.S.C. 921

DISCRETIONARY EXPULSION

Threats

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student may be expelled if the student engages in conduct involving a public school that contains the elements of the offense of false alarm or report under Penal Code 42.06, or terroristic threat under Penal Code 22.07.

School-Related Conduct

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student may be expelled if the student, while on or within 300 feet of school property, as measured from any point on the school's real property boundary line, or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school property:

Alcohol or Drugs

  1. Sells, gives, or delivers to another person, or possesses, uses, or is under the influence of any amount of:
    1. Marijuana or a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C. section 801 et seq.; or
    2. A dangerous drug, as defined by Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code; or
    3. An alcoholic beverage, as defined by Section 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code.

Volatile Chemicals

  1. Engages in conduct that contains the elements of an offense relating to an abusable volatile chemical under Health and Safety Code 485.031-485.034.

Assault on an Employee or Volunteer

  1. Engages in conduct that contains the elements of an offense under Penal Code 22.01(a)(1) against a school district employee, or a volunteer as defined by Education Code 22.053. [See FOC(EXHIBIT)]

Deadly Conduct

  1. Engages in conduct that contains the elements of the offense of deadly conduct under Penal Code 22.05.

Education Code 37.007(b)

Conduct Within 300 Feet of School

Subject to the mandatory expulsion requirement for retaliation and the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student may be expelled if the student, while within 300 feet of school property, as measured from any point on the school's real property boundary line, engages in the following conduct:

  1. Any conduct for which expulsion would have been mandatory under Education Code 37.007(a) [see MANDATORY EXPULSION - SCHOOL RELATED, above]; or
  2. Possession of a firearm, as defined by 18 U.S.C. sec. 921 [see FIREARM, above].

Education Code 37.007(b)

Retaliation Against School Employee or Volunteer

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student may be expelled if the student engages in an assault, under Penal Code 22.01(a)(1), on an employee or volunteer in retaliation for or as a result of the person's employment or association with TSBVI, without regard to whether the conduct occurs on or off school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property.

Education Code 37.007(d)

Conduct Against Another Student

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student may be expelled if the student engages in conduct against another student that contains the elements of the offenses of aggravated assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, arson, murder, capital murder, criminal attempt to commit capital murder, or aggravated robbery, without regard to whether the conduct occurs on or off of school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school property.

Education Code 37.007(b)

Criminal Mischief

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, TSBVI may use its discretion to expel a student who has engaged in conduct that contains the elements of criminal mischief, as defined in the Penal Code, if the conduct is punishable as a felony. Regardless of whether the student is expelled, TSBVI shall refer the student to the authorized officer of the juvenile court.

Education Code 37.007(f)

Persistent Misbehavior in DAEP

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, a student who continues to engage in serious or persistent misbehavior that violates TSBVI’s Student Code of Conduct while placed in a DAEP may be removed from class and expelled.

If the student is expelled, the Superintendent or Principal shall refer the student to the authorized officer of the juvenile court for appropriate proceedings under Family Code Title 3 (Juvenile Justice Code).

Education Code 37.007(c), 37.010(b)

Property or Activities of A School District

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, TSBVI may expel a student who attends school at TSBVI if:

  1. The student engages in conduct for which expulsion would have been mandatory if the conduct had occurred on school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity; and
  2. The student engages in that conduct on the property of a school district or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity of another district in this state.

Education Code 37.007(i)

EXPULSION PROCEEDINGS

Due Process

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, before a student may be expelled, the Superintendent or Principal shall provide the student a hearing at which the student is afforded appropriate due process as required by the federal constitution.

Education Code 37.009(f)

The minimum procedural requirements necessary to satisfy due process depend upon the circumstances and the interests of the parties involved. Federal due process requires notice and some opportunity for hearing.

Notice

The notice should contain a statement of the specific charges and grounds that, if proven, would justify expulsion. In some cases, the student should be given the names of the witnesses against him or her and an oral or written report on the facts to which each witness testifies.

Hearing

The rights of the student may properly be determined upon the hearsay evidence of school administrators who investigate disciplinary infractions.

[See also Brewer v. Austin Indep. Sch. Dist., 779 F.2d 260 (5th Cir. 1985); Keough v. Tate County Bd. of Educ., 748 F.2d 1077 (5th CIr. 1984); McClain v. Lafayette County School Boards Ass'n, 673 F.2d 106 (5th Cir. 1982); Tasby v. Estes, 643 F.2d 1103 (1981); Boykins v. Fairfield Bd. of Educ., 492 F.2d 697 (5th Cir. 1974), cert. den. 95 S. Ct. 1350 (1975); Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education, 294 F.3d 150 (5th Cir. 1961)]

Representative

At the hearing, the student is entitled to be represented by the student's parent, guardian, or another adult who can provide guidance to the student and who is not an employee of TSBVI. If TSBVI makes a good-faith effort to inform the student and the student's parent or guardian of the time and place of the hearing, TSBVI may hold the hearing regardless of whether the student, the student's parent or guardian, or another adult representing the student attends.

TERM OF EXPULSION

If the period of expulsion is inconsistent with the guidelines on length of expulsion in the Student Code of Conduct, the order must give notice of the inconsistency.

Expulsion Beyond One Year

The period of expulsion may not exceed one year unless TSBVI determines that:

  1. The student is a threat to the safety of other students or to TSBVI employees; or
  2. Extended placement is in the best interest of the student.

Education Code 37.009(h)

NOTICE OF EXPULSION ORDER

To Parent or Guardian

The Superintendent or Principal shall deliver a copy of the order expelling the student to the student and the student's parent or guardian. After such notification, the parent or guardian shall provide adequate supervision for the student during the period of expulsion.

Education Code 37.009(g), (h)

To Court

Not later than the second business day after the date an expulsion hearing is held, the Superintendent or Principal shall deliver a copy of the expulsion order and any information required under Family Code 52.04 to the authorized officer of the juvenile court in the county in which the student resides.

Family Code 52.04 requires the following information from a referring entity that is not a law enforcement agency or has not taken the child into custody:

  1. All information in TSBVI’s possession pertaining to the identity of the child and the child's address; the name and address of the child's parent, guardian, or custodian; the names and addresses of any witnesses; and the child's present whereabouts; and
  2. A complete statement of the circumstances of the alleged delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision.

Education Code 37.010(a); Family Code52.04(a),52.041(a), (b)

To Juvenile Board

In a county that operates a juvenile justice alternative education program (JJAEP) [See FODA], no student shall be expelled without written notification by the board or its designee to the juvenile board's designated representative. The notification shall be made not later than two business days following the determination of the Superintendent or Principal that the student is to be expelled. Failure to timely notify the designated representative shall result in the child's duty to continue attending TSBVI’s educational program, which shall be provided to that child until such time as the notification to the designated representative is properly made.

Family Code 52.041

To Staff

The Principal shall inform each teacher who has regular contact with a student through a classroom assignment of the conduct of a student who has engaged in expellable conduct. A teacher's certificate may be suspended or revoked for intentional failure to keep such information confidential.

Education Code 37.007(g)

COMPLETION OF PROCEEDING UPON WITHDRAWAL

If a student withdraws from TSBVI before an order for expulsion is entered, the Superintendent or Principal, as appropriate, may complete the proceedings and enter an order. If the student subsequently enrolls in TSBVI during the same or subsequent school year, TSBVI may enforce the order at that time except for any period of the expulsion that has been served by the student in another district that honored the order. If the Superintendent or Principal fails to enter an order after the student withdraws, the next district in which the student enrolls may complete the proceedings and enter an order.

Education Code 37.009(i)

ADDITIONAL PROCEEDINGS

If, during the term of expulsion, a student engages in additional conduct for which placement in a DAEP or expulsion is required or permitted, additional proceedings may be conducted and the Superintendent or Principal, as appropriate, may enter an additional order.

Education Code 37.009(j)

APPEALS

A decision by the Superintendent or Principal to expel a student may be appealed to the board. If the hearing is not before the board directly, the results and findings of the hearing should be presented in a report open to the student's inspection.

Education Code 37.009(f); Dixon v. Alabama State Board of Education, 294 F.3d 150 (5th Cir. 1961)

RESTRICTIONS ON COURT ORDERS

A court may not order an expelled student to attend TSBVI’s DAEP as a condition of probation.

Exception

A court may order a student to attend the TSBVI DAEP if TSBVI has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the juvenile board for Travis County, concerning the juvenile probation department's role in supervising and providing other support services for students in DAEPs.

Education Code 37.010(c)

TSBVI RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXPELLED STUDENT

TSBVI is responsible for providing an immediate educational program to a student who engages in behavior for which expulsion is permitted but not required under Education Code 37.007, but who is not eligible for admission into the JJAEP in accordance with an MOU. [See FODA]

Contracting for Services

TSBVI may provide the program or TSBVI may contract with a county juvenile board, a private provider, or one or more school districts to provide the program.

Education Code 37.011(l)

RETURN TO CLASS

Early/Permissive

Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, on the recommendation of the Admission, Review and Dismissal committee, or on its own initiative, TSBVI may readmit an expelled student while the student is completing any court disposition requirements, including conditions of a deferred prosecution ordered by the court, or such conditions required by the prosecutor or probation department.

Required

After an expelled student has completed any court disposition requirements successfully, TSBVI may not refuse to admit the student.

TSBVI may place a student returning from expulsion in a DAEP. Subject to the provisions of TSBVI Board Policy FOF, the student may not be returned to the classroom of the teacher under whose supervision the offense occurred without that teacher's consent. The teacher may not be coerced to consent.

Education Code 37.010(f)

EXPELLED FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT

If a student has been expelled from a school district, the expelling district shall provide to TSBVI in which the student enrolls a copy of the expulsion order and the referral to the authorized officer of the juvenile court. TSBVI may continue the expulsion under the terms of the order, may place the student in a DAEP for the period specified by the expulsion order, or may allow the student to participate in the educational program without completing the period of expulsion.

Adopted: 11/7/80
Amended: 5/8/81, 1/14/83, 11/11/83, 9/21/84, 7/17/87, 1/14/88, 3/27/92, 1/29/93, 3/26/93, 9/27/96, 11/19/04
Reviewed


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