79-268. Long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment; procedures; enumerated.

If a principal makes a decision to discipline a student by long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment, the following procedures shall be followed:

(1) On the date of the decision, a written charge and a summary of the evidence supporting such charge shall be filed with the superintendent. The school shall, within two school days after the decision, send written notice by registered or certified mail to the student and his or her parent or guardian informing them of the rights established under the Student Discipline Act;

(2) Such written notice shall include the following:

(a) The rule or standard of conduct allegedly violated and the acts of the student alleged to constitute a cause for long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment, including a summary of the evidence to be presented against the student;

(b) The penalty, if any, which the principal has recommended in the charge and any other penalty to which the student may be subject;

(c) A statement that, before long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment for disciplinary purposes can be invoked, the student has a right to a hearing, upon request, on the specified charges;

(d) A description of the hearing procedures provided by the act, along with procedures for appealing any decision rendered at the hearing;

(e) A statement that the principal, legal counsel for the school, the student, the student's parent, or the student's representative or guardian has the right (i) to examine the student's academic and disciplinary records and any affidavits to be used at the hearing concerning the alleged misconduct and (ii) to know the identity of the witnesses to appear at the hearing and the substance of their testimony; and

(f) A form on which the student, the student's parent, or the student's guardian may request a hearing, to be signed by such parties and delivered to the principal or superintendent in person or by registered or certified mail as prescribed in sections 79-271 and 79-272; and

(3) When a notice of intent to discipline a student by long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment is filed with the superintendent, the student may be suspended by the principal until the date the long-term suspension, expulsion, or mandatory reassignment takes effect if no hearing is requested or, if a hearing is requested, the date the hearing examiner makes the report of his or her findings and a recommendation of the action to be taken to the superintendent, if the principal determines that the student must be suspended immediately to prevent or substantially reduce the risk of (a) interference with an educational function or school purpose or (b) a personal injury to the student himself or herself, other students, school employees, or school volunteers.

The Student Discipline Act does not preclude the student or the student's parent, guardian, or representative from discussing and settling the matter with appropriate school personnel prior to the hearing stage.

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