How Can an Arizona Student Return to School After a Removal?

How can a student return to an Arizona classroom after they have been removed? I’m going to go through a couple of different scenarios where a student would be removed and how they can re-enter the classroom. So, in a previous blog, I discussed how a teacher can remove a child from the classroom. And in that setting, I was discussing if the child is just simply asked to go to the principal’s office. In that case, if the student’s behavior is substantially affecting other students’ ability to learn and the teacher asked the student to go to the principal’s office where they may receive a discipline that’s in compliance with the guidelines of the state, and then also a student and school policies.

In that case, if the student is only going to the office, they can come back to the classroom after they’re removed that way. Once their behavior has changed, they’re calm, they’re ready to learn, and they’re not going to be disruptive anymore, they can be escorted back to the classroom and then proceed. And then any discipline, like I said, can be handed down from either the teacher or the principal, depending on the school’s policy. But if they’re just in the office, they’re calm, they’re not disruptive anymore, that behavior has stopped and they’re aware of that, then the child is likely to come back into the classroom. So, that’s the first scenario. They’re just removed and brought to the principal’s office.

The next one would be suspension. Suspension means that they are unable to come to the school premises for a specific period. It’s normally shorter than 10 days. And they can come back to the classroom just simply when the end of that suspension is done. Or there are options for due process hearings surrounding discipline with the school governing board. If a parent request one of those, if the school board decides that the suspension was not appropriate, the student can enter before the actual time of the suspension is up, or at the end of the suspension, then the student would then re-enter the classroom. So, that’s the second scenario. And then the third one is expulsion.

Expulsion means that the student may not be allowed on school premises for at least a year or for the rest of the school year. They’re done, they’re not able to come back. In this case, it’s serious. It is likely that a due process student discipline hearing would be held before the school’s governing board, and they would make that choice. If you’re rising to the level of expulsion, the behavior must be egregious. But in that case, though, a student could still enter the classroom if at that time, at that due process disciplinary hearing with the school’s governing board, if they decide that this is not appropriate, then the student may re-enter the classroom. If the teacher consents, they may also enter the classroom. And there’s also normally a disciplinary committee that would also make these choices.

And then I’m saying all of this, there’s also likely a school policy that addresses expulsion and discipline as well. And there may be additional options for parents and students to ask to be reconsidered so that the student may enter the classroom. If all of that, the due process hearing, the school still upholds the expulsion, then on a yearly basis or at the reasonable request of a parent, another hearing can be held with the disciplinary committee and the governing board for the school district. And at that time, if they see and feel comfortable and the student and parent can show that the child has changed and they’re ready to reenter the classroom, then they can re-enter as well. Again, removal to the principal’s office, suspension, or expulsion, there are ways for the child to be reentered back into the classroom. These can be very stressful times for parents, and it can be scary for students so please reach out to us.