Why can’t restorative justice replace suspension or expulsion all the time in schools? When is it just not enough? What if the student victims want more punishment? When Restorative Justice Definitely is NOT Enough? There are times when restorative justice is ill-advised, and just plain wrong. It could even be
Okay- everyone knows that fighting at school can get a student in trouble, but what if a teacher is hit during the process? What if it is unintentional? Or, worse, what if it isn’t? School suspension or expulsion can quickly be imposed if school personnel are hit or harmed by
Usually when minor students are in trouble at school, the school administration will interview them. Once in a while, I hear about police conducting interviews. This may or may not be appropriate, depending on the student offense being alleged and the type of interview. There are legal mandates in California
What is a school behavior contract and why could such a student behavior contract be good for a student? What is a School Behavior Contract? A school behavior contract is a document that may be developed between a student’s current school and the student when some negative behaviors are occurring
As students can be suspended or expelled for making threats to cause physical injury in schools, it is useful for parents (and students) to have an understanding of what may be alleged to be a threat. Education Code Regarding Student Threats Student threats which are punishable are mentioned in several
What does it take to issue a valid school suspension? Does a student have to DO something, or can they just be near someone who does something? Over the years, I have seen bystanders (aka witnesses) punished by schools when they did nothing but watch others do wrong. When are
There are many bases for student discipline. One of those involves fighting (aka “mutual combat”), threats, and/or physical violence to another. Such conduct may or may not get a student suspended or placed up for expulsion. California Law on Fighting and School Punishment Per California Education Code 48900(a)(1) for a student to
Over the years as a student attorney, I have had my eyes opened VERY WIDE on just what can lead to school discipline. I often find myself trying to educate parents on what to tell students so they will be less likely to get suspended or expelled from school. Is
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