Laws, Acts, and Legislation

Sec. 3313.66. (A) Except as provided under division (B)(2) of this section, the superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district, or the principal of a public school may suspend a pupil from school for not more than ten school days. The board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a policy granting assistant principals and other administrators the authority to suspend a pupil from school for a period of time as specified in the policy of the board of education, not to exceed ten school days. If at the time a suspension is imposed there are fewer than ten school days remaining in the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the suspension takes place, the superintendent may apply any remaining part or all of the period of the suspension to the following school year. Except in the case of a pupil given an in-school suspension, no pupil shall be suspended unless prior to the suspension such superintendent or principal does both of the following:

(1) Gives the pupil written notice of the intention to suspend the pupil and the reasons for the intended suspension and, if the proposed suspension is based on a violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code and if the pupil is sixteen years of age or older, includes in the notice a statement that the superintendent may seek to permanently exclude the pupil if the pupil is convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for that violation;

(B)(1) Except as provided under division (B)(2), (3), or (4), (5), or (6) of this section, the superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district may expel a pupil from school for a period not to exceed the greater of eighty school days or the number of school days remaining in the semester or term in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place, unless the expulsion is extended pursuant to division (F) of this section. If at the time an expulsion is imposed there are fewer than eighty school days remaining in the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place, the superintendent may apply any remaining part or all of the period of the expulsion to the following school year.

(2)(a) Unless a pupil is permanently excluded pursuant to section 3313.662 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district shall expel a pupil from school for a period of one year for bringing a firearm to a school operated by the board of education of the district or onto any other property owned or controlled by the board, except that the superintendent may reduce this requirement on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the policy adopted by the board under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code.

(b) The superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district may expel a pupil from school for a period of one year for bringing a firearm to an interscholastic competition, an extracurricular event, or any other school program or activity that is not located in a school or on property that is owned or controlled by the district. The superintendent may reduce this disciplinary action on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the policy adopted by the board under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code.

(c) Any expulsion pursuant to division (B)(2) of this section shall extend, as necessary, into the school year following the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place. As used in this division, "firearm" has the same meaning as provided pursuant to the "Gun-Free Schools Act," 115 Stat. 1762, 20 U.S.C. 7151.

(3) The board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a resolution authorizing the superintendent of schools to expel a pupil from school for a period not to exceed one year for bringing a knife to a school operated by the board, onto any other property owned or controlled by the board, or to an interscholastic competition, an extracurricular event, or any other program or activity sponsored by the school district or in which the district is a participant, or for possessing a firearm or knife at a school, on any other property owned or controlled by the board, or at an interscholastic competition, an extracurricular event, or any other school program or activity, which firearm or knife was initially brought onto school board property by another person. The resolution may authorize the superintendent to extend such an expulsion, as necessary, into the school year following the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place.

(4) The board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a resolution establishing a policy under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code that authorizes the superintendent of schools to expel a pupil from school for a period not to exceed one year for committing an act that is a criminal offense when committed by an adult and that results in serious physical harm to persons as defined in division (A)(5) of section 2901.01 of the Revised Code or serious physical harm to property as defined in division (A)(6) of section 2901.01 of the Revised Code while the pupil is at school, on any other property owned or controlled by the board, or at an interscholastic competition, an extracurricular event, or any other school program or activity. Any expulsion under this division shall extend, as necessary, into the school year following the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place.

(5) The board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a resolution establishing a policy under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code that authorizes the superintendent of schools to expel a pupil from school for a period not to exceed one year for making a bomb threat to a school building or to any premises at which a school activity is occurring at the time of the threat. Any expulsion under this division shall extend, as necessary, into the school year following the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the expulsion takes place.

(6) The board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a resolution establishing a policy under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code that authorizes the superintendent of schools to expel a pupil from school for a period not to exceed one hundred eighty school days for actions that the superintendent determines pose imminent and severe endangerment to the health and safety of other pupils or school employees, even though the pupil's actions may not qualify for permanent exclusion under section 3313.662 of the Revised Code. Upon the expulsion of a pupil pursuant to this division, the superintendent shall develop conditions for that pupil to satisfy prior to the pupil's reinstatement. The superintendent shall provide a copy of these conditions in writing to the district board, the pupil, and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian at the beginning of the expulsion period.

One of the conditions developed by the superintendent shall be an assessment to determine whether the pupil poses a danger to the pupil's self or to other pupils or school employees. The assessment shall be completed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or school psychologist employed or contracted by the district. The psychiatrist, psychologist, or school psychologist shall be agreed upon by both the district board and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian. If the psychiatrist, psychologist, or school psychologist is not employed or contracted by the district, the cost of the assessment shall be referred for payment to the pupil's health insurance. Any costs not covered by the pupil's health insurance shall be split equally between the district and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian. The district shall pay in full for an assessment completed by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or school psychologist that is employed or contracted by the district.

(a) At the end of the expulsion period, the superintendent shall assess the pupil and determine whether the pupil has shown sufficient rehabilitation to be reinstated. The superintendent shall take into consideration both the assessment by the psychiatrist, psychologist, or school psychologist and whether or not the pupil has met the conditions developed by the superintendent at the beginning of the expulsion period.

(b) If the superintendent extends the expulsion period under division (B)(6)(a)(ii) of this section, the superintendent shall develop conditions for that pupil to satisfy prior to that pupil's reinstatement, which may be the same as those developed for the original expulsion period. The superintendent shall provide a copy of these conditions in writing to the district board, the pupil, and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian at the beginning of the extended expulsion period. At the end of the extended expulsion period, the superintendent shall reassess the pupil in the manner prescribed by division (B)(6)(a) of this section and may reinstate the pupil or may extend the expulsion for another term, not to exceed ninety school days, in the same manner as provided in divisions (B)(6)(a)(i) and (ii) of this section. There is no limit on the number of times the superintendent may extend an expulsion under division (B)(6)(a)(ii) of this section.

(c) Prior to the end of the original expulsion period or of an extended expulsion period, if the pupil has met all of the conditions developed by the superintendent at the beginning of the expulsion period, the superintendent may reduce the expulsion on a case-by-case basis. In making the determination, the superintendent shall comply with the district's policy regarding the reduction of an expulsion period, adopted pursuant to section 3313.661 of the Revised Code.

(d) Prior to the end of the original expulsion period or of an extended expulsion period, the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian may request the superintendent to complete an early assessment of the pupil. If requested, the superintendent shall assess the pupil and make a determination in the manner prescribed by division (B)(6)(a) of this section. In making the determination, the superintendent shall comply with the district's policy regarding the reduction of an expulsion period, adopted pursuant to section 3313.661 of the Revised Code. A pupil or pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian may request one early assessment for the original expulsion period and for each extended expulsion period under this division.

(e) Not later than five days after the beginning of the original expulsion period or of any extended expulsion period under division (B)(6) of this section, the superintendent, in consultation with the pupil, and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian, shall develop a plan for the continued education of the pupil, which may include education by the district in an alternative setting under division (I) of this section, including instruction at home, enrollment in another district or other type of public or nonpublic school, or any other form of instruction that complies with Chapter 3321. of the Revised Code.

The notice required in this division shall include the reasons for the intended expulsion, notification of the opportunity of the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative to appear before the superintendent or the superintendent's designee to challenge the reasons for the intended expulsion or otherwise to explain the pupil's action, and notification of the time and place to appear. The time to appear shall not be earlier than three nor later than five school days after the notice is given, unless the superintendent grants an extension of time at the request of the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative. If an extension is granted after giving the original notice, the superintendent shall notify the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative of the new time and place to appear. If the proposed expulsion is based on a violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code and if the pupil is sixteen years of age or older, the notice shall include a statement that the superintendent may seek to permanently exclude the pupil if the pupil is convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for that violation.

~~(7)~~(8) A superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district shall initiate expulsion proceedings pursuant to this section with respect to any pupil who has committed an act warranting expulsion under the district's policy regarding expulsion even if the pupil has withdrawn from school for any reason after the incident that gives rise to the hearing but prior to the hearing or decision to impose the expulsion. If, following the hearing, the pupil would have been expelled for a period of time had the pupil still been enrolled in the school, the expulsion shall be imposed for the same length of time as on a pupil who has not withdrawn from the school.

(C) If a pupil's presence poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process taking place either within a classroom or elsewhere on the school premises, the superintendent or a principal or assistant principal may remove a pupil from curricular activities or from the school premises, and a teacher may remove a pupil from curricular activities under the teacher's supervision, without the notice and hearing requirements of division (A) or (B) of this section. As soon as practicable after making such a removal, the teacher shall submit in writing to the principal the reasons for such removal.

If a pupil is removed under this division from a curricular activity or from the school premises, written notice of the hearing and of the reason for the removal shall be given to the pupil as soon as practicable prior to the hearing, which shall be held within three school days from the time the initial removal is ordered. The hearing shall be held in accordance with division (A) of this section unless it is probable that the pupil may be subject to expulsion, in which case a hearing in accordance with division (B) of this section shall be held, except that the hearing shall be held within three school days of the initial removal. The individual who ordered, caused, or requested the removal to be made shall be present at the hearing.

(D) The superintendent or principal, within one school day after the time of a pupil's expulsion or suspension, shall notify in writing the parent, guardian, or custodian of the pupil and the treasurer of the board of education of the expulsion or suspension. The notice shall include the reasons for the expulsion or suspension, notification of the right of the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian to appeal the expulsion or suspension to the board of education or to its designee, to be represented in all appeal proceedings, to be granted a hearing before the board or its designee in order to be heard against the suspension or expulsion, and to request that the hearing be held in executive session, notification that the expulsion may be subject to extension pursuant to division (F) of this section if the pupil is sixteen years of age or older, and notification that the superintendent may seek the pupil's permanent exclusion if the suspension or expulsion was based on a violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code that was committed when the child was sixteen years of age or older and if the pupil is convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for that violation.

In accordance with the policy adopted by the board of education under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code, the notice provided under this division shall specify the manner and date by which the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian shall notify the board of the pupil's, parent's, guardian's, or custodian's intent to appeal the expulsion or suspension to the board or its designee.

Any superintendent expelling a pupil under this section for more than twenty school days or for any period of time if the expulsion will extend into the following semester or school year shall, in the notice required under this division, provide the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian with information about services or programs offered by public and private agencies that work toward improving those aspects of the pupil's attitudes and behavior that contributed to the incident that gave rise to the pupil's expulsion. The information shall include the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the appropriate public and private agencies.

(E) A pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian may appeal the pupil's expulsion by a superintendent or suspension by a superintendent, principal, assistant principal, or other administrator to the board of education or to its designee. If the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian intends to appeal the expulsion or suspension to the board or its designee, the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian shall notify the board in the manner and by the date specified in the notice provided under division (D) of this section. The pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian may be represented in all appeal proceedings and shall be granted a hearing before the board or its designee in order to be heard against the suspension or expulsion. At the request of the pupil or of the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or attorney, the board or its designee may hold the hearing in executive session but shall act upon the suspension or expulsion only at a public meeting. The board, by a majority vote of its full membership or by the action of its designee, may affirm the order of suspension or expulsion, reinstate the pupil, or otherwise reverse, vacate, or modify the order of suspension or expulsion.

(F)(1) If a pupil is expelled pursuant to division (B) of this section for committing any violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code and the pupil was sixteen years of age or older at the time of committing the violation, if a complaint, indictment, or information is filed alleging that the pupil is a delinquent child based upon the commission of the violation or the pupil is prosecuted as an adult for the commission of the violation, and if the resultant juvenile court or criminal proceeding is pending at the time that the expulsion terminates, the superintendent of schools that expelled the pupil may file a motion with the court in which the proceeding is pending requesting an order extending the expulsion for the lesser of an additional eighty days or the number of school days remaining in the school year. Upon the filing of the motion, the court immediately shall schedule a hearing and give written notice of the time, date, and location of the hearing to the superintendent and to the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian. At the hearing, the court shall determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the pupil committed the alleged violation that is the basis of the expulsion and, upon determining that reasonable cause to believe the pupil committed the violation does exist, shall grant the requested extension.

(2) If a pupil has been convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for a violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code for an act that was committed when the child was sixteen years of age or older, if the pupil has been expelled pursuant to division (B) of this section for that violation, and if the board of education of the school district of the school from which the pupil was expelled has adopted a resolution seeking the pupil's permanent exclusion, the superintendent may file a motion with the court that convicted the pupil or adjudicated the pupil a delinquent child requesting an order to extend the expulsion until an adjudication order or other determination regarding permanent exclusion is issued by the superintendent of public instruction pursuant to section 3301.121 and division (D) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code. Upon the filing of the motion, the court immediately shall schedule a hearing and give written notice of the time, date, and location of the hearing to the superintendent of the school district, the pupil, and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian. At the hearing, the court shall determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe the pupil's continued attendance in the public school system may endanger the health and safety of other pupils or school employees and, upon making that determination, shall grant the requested extension.

(G) The failure of the superintendent or the board of education to provide the information regarding the possibility of permanent exclusion in the notice required by divisions (A), (B), and (D) of this section is not jurisdictional, and the failure shall not affect the validity of any suspension or expulsion procedure that is conducted in accordance with this section or the validity of a permanent exclusion procedure that is conducted in accordance with sections 3301.121 and 3313.662 of the Revised Code.

(H) With regard to suspensions and expulsions pursuant to divisions (A) and (B) of this section by the board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district, this section shall apply to any student, whether or not the student is enrolled in the district, attending or otherwise participating in any curricular program provided in a school operated by the board or provided on any other property owned or controlled by the board.

(I) Whenever a student is expelled under this section, the expulsion shall result in removal of the student from the student's regular school setting. However, during the period of the expulsion, the board of education of the school district that expelled the student or any board of education admitting the student during that expulsion period may provide educational services to the student in an alternative setting.

(2) Notwithstanding sections 3109.51 to 3109.80, 3313.64, and 3313.65 of the Revised Code, any school district, after offering an opportunity for a hearing, may temporarily deny admittance to any pupil if the pupil has been expelled or otherwise removed for disciplinary purposes from a public school in another state and the period of expulsion or removal has not expired. If a pupil is temporarily denied admission under this division, the pupil shall be admitted to school in accordance with sections 3109.51 to 3109.80, 3313.64, or 3313.65 of the Revised Code no later than the earlier of the following:

(b) Upon expiration of a period established by the district, beginning with the date of expulsion or removal from the out-of-state school, that is no greater than the period of expulsion that the pupil would have received under the policy adopted by the district under section 3313.661 of the Revised Code had the offense that gave rise to the expulsion or removal by the out-of-state school been committed while the pupil was enrolled in the district.

Sec. 3313.661. (A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall adopt a policy regarding suspension, expulsion, removal, and permanent exclusion that specifies the types of misconduct for which a pupil may be suspended, expelled, or removed. The types of misconduct may include misconduct by a pupil that occurs off of property owned or controlled by the district but that is connected to activities or incidents that have occurred on property owned or controlled by that district and misconduct by a pupil that, regardless of where it occurs, is directed at a district official or employee, or the property of such official or employee. The policy shall specify the reasons for which the superintendent of the district may reduce the expulsion requirement in division (B)(2) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code. If a board of education adopts a resolution pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code, the policy shall define the term "knife" or "firearm," as applicable, for purposes of expulsion under that resolution and shall specify any reasons for which the superintendent of the district may reduce any required expulsion period on a case-by-case basis. If a board of education adopts a resolution pursuant to division (B)(4) or, (5), or (6) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code, the policy shall specify any reasons for which the superintendent of the district may reduce any ~~required~~ expulsion period on a case-by-case basis. The policy also shall set forth the acts listed in section 3313.662 of the Revised Code for which a pupil may be permanently excluded.

The policy adopted under this division shall specify the date and manner by which a pupil or a pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian may notify the board of the pupil's, parent's, guardian's, or custodian's intent to appeal an expulsion or suspension to the board or its designee pursuant to division (E) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code. In the case of any expulsion, the policy shall not specify a date that is less than fourteen days after the date of the notice provided to the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian under division (D) of that section.

A copy of the policy shall be posted in a central location in the school and made available to pupils upon request. No pupil shall be suspended, expelled, or removed except in accordance with the policy adopted by the board of education of the school district in which the pupil attends school, and no pupil shall be permanently excluded except in accordance with sections 3301.121 and 3313.662 of the Revised Code.

(B) A board of education may establish a program and adopt guidelines under which a superintendent may require a pupil to perform community service in conjunction with a suspension or expulsion imposed under section 3313.66 of the Revised Code or in place of a suspension or expulsion imposed under section 3313.66 of the Revised Code except for an expulsion imposed pursuant to division (B)(2) of that section. If a board adopts guidelines under this division, they shall permit, except with regard to an expulsion pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code, a superintendent to impose a community service requirement beyond the end of the school year in lieu of applying the suspension or expulsion into the following school year. Any guidelines adopted shall be included in the policy adopted under this section.

(D) Any policy, program, or guideline adopted by a board of education under this section with regard to suspensions or expulsions pursuant to division (A) or (B) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code shall apply to any student, whether or not the student is enrolled in the district, attending or otherwise participating in any curricular program provided in a school operated by the board or provided on any other property owned or controlled by the board.