Pupil discipline: expulsion hearings: county schools.

Existing law requires the governing board of each school district to establish rules and regulations governing procedures for the expulsion of pupils including, but not limited to, an expulsion hearing and a right to appeal. Existing law requires the county superintendent of schools in counties that operate community schools, in conjunction with superintendents of the school districts within the county, to develop a plan for providing education services to all expelled pupils in that county. This bill would prohibit a school operated by a county office of education from expelling a pupil accused of certain offenses unless the county board of education contracts with the Office of Administrative Hearings or appoints an impartial administrative panel for purposes of an expulsion hearing, as specified. The bill would require that the pupil or the pupil's parent or guardian be provided with notice of the hearing, as specified. The bill would authorize a pupil expelled from a school operated by a county office of education to appeal the hearing officer's or the impartial administrative panel's decision to expel to the county board of education. The bill would require the county superintendent of schools or his or her designee, if the county board of education upholds an expulsion, to provide a written notice of the decision to expel, as specified. The bill would also require the plan for providing education services to all expelled pupils in a county that operates one or more community schools to include pupils expelled by the county board of education. By imposing new duties upon county boards of education, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.