#### Comprehensive School Safety Plan

District Office Garvey School District
Section 5: Suspension and Expulsion
Part 2: Expulsion BP 5144.1 AB1729

########## Expulsion

The Board of Education recognizes that maintaining an environment that promotes learning and protects the health, safety, and welfare of all students may require the suspension or expulsion of a student from regular classroom instruction. District policies and school site rules shall clearly identify district behavior standards. AB 1729 -Existing law provides that a pupil shall not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed a specified act. Existing law also authorizes a superintendent of the school district or principal to use his or her discretion to provide alternatives to suspension or expulsion, including, but not limited to, counseling and an anger management program, for a pupil subject to discipline under this provision. This bill would instead authorize a superintendent of the school district or principal of the school to use alternatives to suspension or expulsion that are age appropriate and designed to address and correct the pupil’s specific misbehavior, as specified. Existing law requires the imposition of suspension only when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct but authorizes the suspension of a pupil, including an individual with exceptional needs, upon a first offense if the principal or superintendent of schools determines that specified offenses were committed or that the pupil’s presence causes a danger to persons or property or threatens to disrupt the instructional process. This bill would authorize a school district to document the other means of correction used and place that documentation in the pupil’s record. The bill would also specify that other means of correction include, but are not limited to, among other things, a positive behavior support approach with tiered interventions that occur during the school day on campus, a conference between school personnel, the pupil’s parent or guardian, and the pupil, participation in a restorative justice program, and after-school programs that address specific behavioral issues or expose pupils to positive activities and behaviors.

Except in cases where suspension for a first offense is warranted in accordance with law, suspension shall be imposed only when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. (Education Code 48900.5)

Expulsion is an action taken by the Board for severe or prolonged breaches of discipline by a student. Except for single acts of a grave nature, expulsion is usually used only when there is a history of misconduct, when other forms of discipline, including suspension, have failed to bring about proper conduct, or when the student's presence causes a continuing danger to other students. (Education Code 48915)

The grounds for suspension and expulsion and the procedures for considering, recommending and/or implementing suspension and expulsion shall be specified in administrative regulation.

Each principal shall annually inform all students and parents/guardians of the school's discipline rules and procedures and of the availability of all district policies and regulations dealing with student discipline, suspension and expulsion. (Education Code 35291, 35291.5)

Alternatives to suspension or expulsion will be used with students who are truant, tardy, or otherwise absent from assigned school activities. (Education Code 48900)

Suspended or expelled students shall be excluded from all school-related extracurricular activities during the suspension or expulsion.

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