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Regular Sch. Discipline, Suspension, Expulsion - William Allan Kritsonis, PHD
Regular Sch. Discipline, Suspension, Expulsion - William Allan Kritsonis, PHD
Discipline,
Suspension, and
Expulsion
William Allan Kritsonis, PhD
1
Regular Student
Discipline
Expulsion-
Suspension
2
Regular Student Discipline
Every Texas school district must create a
foundation for student discipline by adopting a
student code of conduct that establishes clear
standards for student behavior. The student code
of conduct will often reflect the discipline policies
and related procedures that a district has in place
to manage student behavior in class and on
school property. Discipline policies and
procedures typically include due process for
students who have violated the student code of
conduct and for students who are placed in
alternative programs outside the regular education
setting.
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Grounds for: Nondisabled
students**Removal by teacher
A teacher may send a student to the principal to maintain
effective classroom discipline. (Sec. 37.002(a))
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Removal to Disciplinary Alternative
Education Program
A school district must place in a DAEP any student who engages in
the following conduct that occurs on or within 300 feet of school
property or while the student is attending a school-sponsored or
school-related activity on or off school property:
Conduct punishable as a felony;
Offense constituting terroristic threat, assault that causes injury, or
false alarm or report;
Transfers/possesses/uses or is under the influence of marijuana,
controlled substances, or dangerous drugs;
Transfers/possesses/uses or commits a serious offense while under
the influence of alcohol;
Conduct containing the elements of abuse of volatile chemicals;
Conduct containing the elements of public lewdness or indecent
exposure.
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Removal to Disciplinary Alternative
Education Program Cont
A student must be placed in a DAEP if, while off campus and not in
attendance at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, the
student receives deferred prosecution for offenses listed in Title 5 of
the Texas Penal Code, i.e., violent offenses against the person; a court
or jury finds that the student has engaged in delinquent conduct or
conduct prohibited in Title 5; or the superintendent has a reasonable
belief that the student engaged in conduct defined as a Title 5 felony
offense.
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Removal to Disciplinary Alternative
Education Program Cont
A student may be placed in a DAEP if the student, while off
campus and not in attendance at a school-sponsored or school-
related activity:
Has engaged in (nonviolent) conduct defined as a felony offense OTHER
than those defined under Title 5, Texas Penal Code (violent conduct), and
the superintendent has a reasonable belief that the student has engaged in
such conduct; and
The continued presence of the student in the regular classroom threatens
the safety of other students or teachers or will be detrimental to the
educational process.
Students younger than age 6 may not be removed to a DAEP, unless they bring
a firearm to school.
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Expulsion or Removal to DAEP, JJAEP
The student shall receive oral notice of the reason for the
action at the time of the emergency placement. A proper due
process hearing must occur within a reasonable time after the
placement or expulsion.
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Nevares v. San Marcos C.I.S.D.
One court case related to School Discipline-Suspension and Expulsion
would be Nevares v. San Marcos C.I.S.D. In this case, given by The Educators
Guide to Texas School Law, it states that Timothy Nevares was among the first
students assigned t o DAEP after the adoption of the mandatory placement
provisions in Chapter 37. Nevares was placed in DAEP based on off-campus
conduct. His suit against the San Marcos C.I.S.D. was followed closely by
educators in Texas, since it was the first major court challenged to some of the
more controversial aspects of Chapter 37. Though Nevares had some success at
district level, he struck out before the Fifth Circuit. Nevares had complained of a
lack of due process, alleging that the school had tossed him into an inferior
program without a proper hearing. But the Fifth Circuit ruled that no process
was due, because the student was not deprived of property or liberty. Timothy
Nevares was not denied access to public education, not even temporarily. He was
only transferred from one school program to another with stricter discipline
Since no deprivation occurred, no process of any kind was due. In other words,
as far as federal law is concerned, students assigned to DAEP are not entitled to
any kind of hearing, not even an informal type hearing. This would appear to
close the door to suits alleging a violation of federal due process based on DAEP 18
assignments.
Aledo I.S.D. v. Reese
Also stated in The Educators Guide to Texas School Law,
is another court case that relates to School Discipline-
Suspension and Expulsion was Aledo I.S.D. v. Reese, in this
case, a student was placed in a DAEP due to possession of a
shotgun in his truck on the school parking lot after a weekend
hunting trip. The student filed suit, and a state district judge
issued an injunction, ordering the school to readmit the
student to the regular school program. The court of appeals
read TEC 37.0009(b) (Any decision of the board or the boards
designee under this subsection is final and may not be
appealed) and declared that it means what it says--- DAEP
orders may not be appealed beyond the school board.
Therefore, the state district judge should not have even heard
the case. The injunction was issued erroneously and was void.
A second court of appeals reached exactly the same conclusion 19
Walsh, J., Kemere, F., & Maniotis, L. (2005). The Educators Guide to
Texas School Law. Austin: University of Texas Press.