Washoe Country School District
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Suspension/Expulsion
What if a student with an IEP is suspended?
Manifestation Determination
School Administrators have the authority to remove students from school for no more than 10 cummulative or consecutive days in a school year. For any offenses resulting in further removal beyond 10 days, IEP teams must meet and determine whether or not the offense was related to the student's disability. This must occur prior to any further removals beyond 10 days. A Prior Written Notice must be provided to parents explaining the purpose of the meeting (in this case, to determine the relationship of the offense to the disability). The site administrator must fill out a Suspension/Expulsion Notification (SES 18). The IEP team will conduct a Manifestation Determination review to evaluate the relationship between the student's disability and the act of misconduct to determine if the behavior in question was caused by, or had a direct and substantial relationship to the child's disability; or if the behavior was the direct result of the local educational agency's failure to implement the IEP.
The Manifestation Determination Summary (SES 18F) is then filled out. If the behavior is determined to be related to the student's disability the IEP team must conduct a FBA, (functional behavioral assessment) and implement a PBIP, (positive behavioral intervention plan) or revise an existing one for the student following a Manifestation Determination review. If the school had already developed an FBA and implemented a PBIP for the student, the IEP team must review and modify the current FBA and PBIP (where appropriate), to address the behavior in question.
Finally, the IEP team must conduct a meeting to determine the location of an Interim Alternative Educational Setting (IAES) for those students who are removed from their current placement for more than 10 school days for behavior not determined to be a manifestation of the student's disability, or in cases of an Interim Alternative Educational Setting (IAES) where a student carried or possessed a weapon, knowingly possessed or used illegal drugs, or inflicted serious bodily injury (irrespective of whether the behavior is a manifestation of the disability) up to 45 school days. (Note: An IAES removal requires a meeting with the Coordinator of Specialized Discipline).
Student Support Services Discipline Link
For questions regarding content on this page, please email the Mentor and Induction Program at afannin@washoeschools.net.
