| DeWitt Public Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5611 - DUE PROCESS RIGHTS
The Board of Education recognizes the importance of safeguarding a student's constitutional rights, particularly when subject to the District's disciplinary procedures.
To better ensure appropriate due-process is provided a student, the Board establishes the following guidelines:
| A. | Students subject to short-term suspension (for less than ten (10) school days): | |
| Except when emergency removal is warranted, a student must be given oral or written notice of the charges against him/her and the opportunity to respond prior to the implementation of a suspension. When emergency removal has been implemented, notice and opportunity to respond shall occur as soon as reasonably possible. The principal or other designated administrator shall provide the opportunity to be heard and shall be responsible for making the suspension decision. An appeal may be addressed to the Superintendent whose decision will be final. | ||
| B. | Students subject to long-term suspension and expulsion (for ten (10) or more school days): | |
| A student and his/her parent or guardian must be given written notice of the intention to suspend or expel and the reasons therefore, and an opportunity to appear with a representative before the Superintendent to answer the charges. The student and/or his/her guardian must also be provided a brief description of the student's rights and of the private hearing procedure, a list of the witnesses who will provide testimony to the Superintendent, and a summary of the facts to which the witnesses will testify. The Superintendent will take action at the private hearing. The Board shall act publicly on any written appeal to an expulsion (Policy 5610 and/or 5610.01), to a written request for reinstatement (Policy 5610.01), or to a request for admission after being permanently expelled from another district (Policy 5610.01). |
The Superintendent shall establish procedures so that all members of the staff use the above guidelines when dealing with students. In addition, this statement of due process rights is to be placed in all student handbooks in a manner that will facilitate understanding by students and their parents.
Revised 4/13/98
Revised 6/12/00
Revised 12/10/01
Revised 1/12/04