Policy 5.1818

Student Early Reinstatment

1. Purpose.-- It is the intent of the School Board that students serve the full term of their expulsions, while recognizing the necessity for limited exceptions where early reinstatement would be appropriate. It is not the intent that the following process be utilized in such a way as to circumvent the expulsion process. This policy sets forth standards for a limited opportunity for students that have been expelled to request early reinstatement.

2. General Provisions

1. An expelled student, other than one expelled under Policy 5.1814 ("Most Severe Consequences for Violent Acts"), may apply for early reinstatement only one time during the period of expulsion. If the application is rejected, the student must serve the remainder of the expulsion period.

2. Early reinstatement approvals will take effect only two times a year: at the beginning of the school year in August and at the beginning of the second semester in January. An exception from this schedule may be made for students who were expelled either during the first month of school, or during the first month of the second semester. For example, when a student is expelled in September for an incident that occurred in August, and that student's expulsion may generally continue until the following September, consideration of early reinstatement before August would be appropriate so as to allow the student to return to the regular program in August instead of missing the first month of school by starting in September.

3. All requests for early reinstatement must be submitted in writing, either typed or printed from a computer, to the Chief Academic Officer for the School District.

4. It is the responsibility of the student to fulfill the criteria for early reinstatement, and the student/parent must document the criteria and submit a completed packet for review, with all documentation of completed reinstatement criteria provided as required. Incomplete packets will not be eligible for review.

5. Early reinstatement approval/rejection is within the complete and sole discretion of the School Board. Approval for a recommendation of early reinstatement to the School Board is within the sole discretion of the Chief Academic Officer.

3. Criteria.-- All requests for early reinstatement must meet the following criteria. The Chief Academic Officer cannot advise the Superintendent to recommend that the School Board consider a student's request for early reinstatement unless all of the following criteria have been met:

1. The student must have served at least three-fourths (75%) of the expulsion term ordered by the Board pursuant to Policy 5.1817(5)(d)(i).

2. The student has demonstrated successful rehabilitation, with all of the following as evidence:

1. Conduct.-- The student must not have had any disciplinary incidents since the time of the incident leading to expulsion.

2. Restitution.-- The student must provide documented evidence that any restitution owed to either the School Board or any victim(s) has been made or waived by the party to whom it is owed.

3. Treatment Program.-- If the student was expelled for violent conduct, anger management must have been completed. If the student was expelled for violations involving controlled substances, a rehabilitative program shall have been completed.

4. Community Service.-- The student must have provided evidence of completing appropriate volunteer community service work consisting of fifteen (15) hours for elementary students and forty (40) hours for middle- and high-school students. The Superintendent/designee shall make available a list of examples of appropriate community service work opportunities.

5. Exemplary Attendance.-- If the student chose to continue receiving educational services through an alternative education contractor of the School District during expulsion, the student must have accrued an exemplary attendance record (i.e. no more than three (3) absences in a semester). If the student attended private school, then the private school attendance records must reflect exemplary attendance.

6. Good Grades.-- The student shall have achieved and maintained a minimum of a 2.5 grade point average during the period of expulsion.

7. Personal Statement.-- The student must have submitted a personal statement regarding the violation leading to the expulsion and the reasons why the student believes early reinstatement should be granted. An apology to any victim(s) must be included in the statement. For middle and high-school students, the length of the statement shall be equivalent to at least two (2) double-spaced typewritten pages and should preferably be typewritten or computer-printed. For elementary school students, the length of the statement shall be equivalent to at least one (1) double-spaced typewritten page and should preferably be typewritten or computer-printed.

4. School Board Action

1. It is within the sole discretion of the Chief Academic Officer to advise that the Superintendent recommend early reinstatement. It is within the sole discretion of the Superintendent to recommendation early reinstatement to the Board upon the advice of the Chief Academic Officer. Upon the Superintendent's approval, the recommendation will be placed on the agenda for the next available School Board meeting.

2. Upon written request, the student or parent/guardian/student/representative may attend a special meeting with the Board on the day of the general Board meeting to explain why he/she believes early reinstatement should be granted. The presentation will be limited to three minutes and shall only focus on early reinstatement. There will be no discussion involving the merits of the expulsion case itself. Such presentations must be requested through the Department of Legal Services.

3. At the general meeting, the Board will vote on whether to approve the recommendation. Final approval or rejection of the early-reinstatement request is within the sole discretion of the School Board.