Cut Bank School District

STUDENTS 3300

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Corrective Actions and Punishment

All students shall submit to the reasonable rules of the District. Refusal to comply with written rules and regulations established for the governing of the school shall constitute sufficient cause for discipline, suspension, or expulsion.

For the purposes of the District's policies relating to corrective action or punishment:

1. "Suspension" is the exclusion from school or individual classes for a specific period of time, after which the student has a right to return. Administrators may suspend.

2. "Expulsion" is the exclusion from school. Only the Board has the authority to expel.

3. "Discipline" constitutes all other forms of corrective action or punishment, including brief exclusions from a class for not more than the remainder of the class period and exclusion from any other type of activity conducted by or for the District. Discipline shall not adversely affect specific academic grade, subject, or graduation requirements, as long as all required work is performed.

Except in extreme cases, students will not be expelled unless other forms of corrective action or punishment have failed, or unless there is good reason to believe that other forms of corrective action or punishment would fail if employed. Suspensions or expulsions shall be used only for instances of serious student misconduct.

Students with disabilities may also be suspended under these same rules if the suspension will not constitute a change in placement. On or before a student with a disabling condition accrues ten (10) days of suspension, the Child Study Team who has knowledge of the student's disabling condition will determine if there is causal relationship between the disabling condition and the student's misconduct. If such a relationship exists, the student's educational placement may not be changed without parental approval or a court order, pending a due process hearing under IDEA.

Likewise, before a recommendation on the expulsion of a disabled student is submitted to the Board, the Child Study Team must meet to determine if there is a causal relationship between the disabling condition and the student's misconduct. The Board shall consult legal counsel before expelling any disabled student.

When a disabled student is acting in such a way that he/she poses a danger to himself/herself or

to another student or property, or substantially disrupts his/her educational program or that of other students, an emergency suspension may take place. Emergency suspensions may not last

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longer than ten (10) school days. The principal shall convene the Team for reviewing the student's record before the student is readmitted to school and no later then the tenth (10th) day of suspension.

Once a student is expelled in compliance with District policy, the expulsion shall be brought to the attention of appropriate local or state authorities, in order than such authorities may address the student's needs.

No student shall be expelled, suspended, or disciplined in any manner for any act not related to the orderly operation of the school or school-sponsored activities or any other aspect of the educational process.

Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq., Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

§ 20-5-105, MCA Attendance officer - powers and duties

§ 20-5-106, MCA Truancy

§ 20-4-302, MCA Power of teacher or principal over pupils

§ 20-4-402, MCA Duties of district superintendent

§ 20-5-201, MCA Duties and sanctions

§ 20-5-202, MCA Suspension and expulsion

§ 10.16.1105, ARM Aversive treatment procedures

Policy History:

Adopted on:

Revised on: