On several other days during the year, the child voluntarily went to the behavior lab, pursuant to his behavior management plan. The behavior lab is a regular education program staffed by two paraprofessionals and teachers on a rotating basis. The program is designed to continue a child's educational services while isolating the child from usual social contacts. The child moved from the school district and did not return to school after the Christmas vacation. Also the services must meet the statutes and rules enforced by the department, including those statutes and rules related to suspension of pupils.
State law governs procedures relating to the suspension of pupils.
A series of short suspensions may create an exclusionary pattern that constitutes a change in placement. If a series of suspensions creates such a pattern of exclusion, the district has denied the child a FAPE in violation of state and federal law. Factors such as the length of each suspension, the total amount of time that the student is excluded from school, and the proximity of the suspensions to each other are considered in determining whether there has been a change in placement. Periods of in-school suspension are considered when determining if a change of placement has occurred if IEP services are not provided. During the current school year, the child was suspended out of school for eight days.