Student Discipline From A to Z

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Student Discipline From A to Z

• Andrea G. Erard, Esq.
• VSBA School Law Conference
• June 6, 2008
• Charlottesville, Virginia

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John Forest Dillon
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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.

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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.

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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.

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Options for School Boards in Disciplining
Students-Overview
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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.

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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

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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.)

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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. )

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Authority of School BoardsAlternative Education
Program

• Under some circumstances, a School Board can
  require that a student attend an alternative
  education program.

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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.

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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.

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(No Transcript)
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Requirements Related to Disciplinary Options of
School Boards
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Student Suspensions/Expulsions

• Sufficient cause is required to suspend or
  expel a student. Virginia Code 22.1-277.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
  

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.