In-School Suspension & Short-Term Suspension

The Superintendent designates Principals, Assistant Principals, and Central Office Administrators who currently hold a valid Washington state administrative certificate with the authority to impose in-school and short-term suspension. Deans of Students/EAs/administrative interns (in consultation with an administrator have also been granted this authority. Before administering an in-school or short-term suspension, staff members must have first attempted one or more other forms of discipline to support the student in meeting behavioral expectations and considered the student’s individual circumstances. The district will not administer in-school suspension that would result in the denial or delay of the student’s nutritionally adequate meal. Unless otherwise required by law, the district is not required to impose in-school or short-term suspensions and instead, strives to keep students in school, learning in a safe and appropriate environment. However, there are circumstances when the district may determine that in-school or short-term suspension is appropriate. After investigating an incident but before administering any in-school or short-term suspension, the district will attempt to notify the student’s parent(s) as soon as reasonably possible regarding the behavioral violation. Additionally, the principal or designee must conduct an informal meeting (or initial hearing) with the student to hear the student’s perspective. The principal or designee must provide the student an opportunity to contact his or her parent(s) regarding the informal meeting. The district must hold the informal meeting in a language the parent and student understand.

At the informal meeting, the principal or designee will provide the student:

  • Notice of the student’s violation of this policy;
  • An explanation of the evidence regarding the behavioral violation;
  • An explanation of the discipline that may be administered; and
  • An opportunity for the student to share his or her perspective and provide explanation regarding the behavioral violation.

Following the informal meeting, the principal or designee must inform the student of the disciplinary decision regarding the behavioral violation, including the date when any suspension or expulsion will begin and end. No later than one (1) school business day following the initial hearing with the student, the district will provide written notice of the suspension or expulsion to the student and parents in person, by mail, or by email in a language and form the student and parents will understand. The written notice must include:

  • A description of the student’s behavior and how the behavior violated this policy;
  • The duration and conditions of the suspension or expulsion, including the dates on which the suspension or expulsion will begin and end;
  • The other forms of discipline that the district considered or attempted, and an explanation of the district’s decision to administer the suspension or expulsion;
  • The opportunity to receive educational services during the suspension or expulsion;
  • The right of the student and parent(s) to an informal conference with the principal or designee; and
  • The right of the student and parent(s) to appeal the in-school or short-term suspension; For students in kindergarten through fourth grade, the district will not administer in-school or short-term suspension for more than ten (10) cumulative school days during any academic term. For students in grades five through twelve, the district will not administer in-school or short-term suspension for more than fifteen (15) cumulative school days during any single semester, or more than ten (10) cumulative school days during any single trimester. Additionally, the district will not administer a short-term or in-school suspension beyond the school year in which the behavioral violation occurred.