Reconsideration of Appeal

The student or parents may request the school board or discipline appeal council, if established by the school board, review and reconsider the district’s appeal decision for long-term suspensions or expulsions and emergency expulsions. This request may be either oral or in writing.

The school board may designate a discipline appeal council to hear and decide any appeals in this policy and procedure or to review and reconsider a district’s appeal decisions. A discipline appeal council must consist of at least three persons appointed by the school board for fixed terms. All members of a discipline appeal council must be knowledgeable about the rules in Chapter 392-400 WAC and this policy and procedure. The school board may also designate the Superintendent or a hearing officer to hear and decide appeals. The presiding official(s) may not have been involved in the student’s behavioral violation or the decision to suspend or expel the student.

For long-term suspension or expulsion, the student or parent(s) may request a review within ten (10) school business days from when the district provided the student and parent(s) with the written appeal decision. For emergency expulsion, the student or parent(s) may request a review within five (5) school business days from when the district provided the student and parent(s) with the written appeal decision.

  • In reviewing the district’s decision, the school board or discipline appeal council, if established, must consider (i) all documentary and physical evidence from the appeal hearing related to the behavioral violation; (ii) any records from the appeal hearing; (iii) relevant state law; and (iv) this policy adopted.
  • The school board (or discipline appeal council) may request to meet with the student and parent(s), the principal, witnesses, and/or school personnel to hear further arguments and gather additional information.
  • The decision of the school board (or discipline appeal council) will be made only by board or discipline council members who were not involved in (i) the behavioral violation;
    (ii) the decision to suspend or expel the student; or (iii) the appeal decision. If the discipline appeal council presided over the appeal hearing, the school board will conduct the review and reconsideration. For long-term suspension or expulsion, the school board (or discipline appeal council) will provide a written decision to the student and parent(s) in person, by mail, or by email within ten (10) school business days after receiving the request for review and reconsideration. The written decision must identify:
  • Whether the school board (or discipline appeal council) affirms, reverses, or modifies the suspension or expulsion;
  • The duration and conditions of the suspension or expulsion, including the beginning and ending dates of the suspension or expulsion; and
  • For long-term suspensions or expulsions, notice of the opportunity to participate in a reengagement meeting. For emergency expulsion, the school board (or discipline appeal council) will provide a written decision to the student and parent(s) in person, by mail, or by email within five (5) school business days after receiving the request for review and reconsideration. The written decision must identify:
  • Whether the school board [or discipline appeal council] affirms or reverses the school district’s decision that the student’s statements or behaviors posed (i) an immediate and continuing danger to students or school personnel; or (ii) an immediate and continuing threat of material and substantial disruption of the educational process.
  • If the emergency expulsion has not yet ended or been converted, whether the district will end the emergency expulsion or convert the emergency expulsion to a suspension or expulsion. If the district converts the emergency expulsion to a suspension or expulsion, the district will provide the student and parent(s) notice and due process under WAC 392-400- 455 through 392-400-480 consistent with the disciplinary action to which the emergency expulsion was converted.