Opinion ID: 472144
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Suspension Pursuant to Expulsion Proceedings

Text: 56 The school authorities in this case appear to have relied on California Education Code Sec. 48911(g), which authorizes school district superintendents or their designees, under certain circumstances, 10 to extend a student's suspension indefinitely pending resolution of expulsion proceedings against him. The defendants apparently concede that the district court was justified in finding this provision invalid as applied to Doe and Smith. Neither could have been expelled for their admittedly handicap-related misconduct; nor, as a consequence, could they lawfully have been suspended in conjunction with expulsion proceedings. The defendants argue, however, that the provision is not necessarily invalid in all cases involving handicapped students. 57 We agree. Once an IEP team (or a hearing officer or court if review is sought) has properly determined that the misconduct at issue was not handicap-related, a handicapped child is subject to suspension during the pendency of any ensuing expulsion proceedings. Section 48911(g) does not, however, obviate the duty to make such a preliminary determination.