(A) Subject to the limitations set forth in section 3313.668 of the Revised Code, 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 capable of causing serious bodily injury" 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) 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 an expulsion into the following school year. Any guidelines adopted shall be included in the policy adopted under this section.

(C) The written policy of each board of education that is adopted pursuant to section 3313.20 of the Revised Code shall be posted in a central location in each school that is subject to the policy and shall be made available to pupils upon request.

(D) Except as described in division (B) of section 3313.668 of the Revised Code, 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.

(E) As used in this section, "permanently exclude" and "permanent exclusion" have the same meanings as in section 3313.662 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 318, §1, eff. 11/2/2018.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 410, §1, eff. 4/6/2017.

Effective Date: 03-12-2001; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007 .