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A student gets suspended. Now what?
Students have rights in school, even if they are suspended or expelled for their behavior.
• Suspension: Removal from school for less than 10 days
• Expulsion: Removal from school for more than 10 days
(usually assigned to an Alternative Learning Center)
Students have the right to a fair process to address school behavior.
This is called Due Process.
Schools must notify parents within 24 hours:
• What rule did the student not follow
• The reason and length of suspension
• Exception: In-school suspension for less than one day
• Give an opportunity for the student to explain what happened
MNPS requires a written notice of a suspension or expulsion. Ask for a copy of the discipline referral.
What is a Discipline Table?
MNPS has a discipline table in the MNPS Handbook to explain behaviors that can lead to suspension and expulsion. The table lists inappropriate behaviors (such as being late, fighting, or bringing drugs or a weapon to school) and the discipline responses the school is allowed to choose from.
Discipline Tables – Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools https://www.mnps.org/students-families/handbook/discipline-responses/discipline-tables
About Charter Schools
Charter schools may have different policies and practices. Ask to see your school’s student handbook if your child attends a charter school.
You Have the Right to Document & Check
Ask for the discipline referral for every suspension. Check the discipline table and review the discipline response.
Informal Removals or Suspensions are Not Legal
What is an informal suspension? You may hear “your student is having a hard day, and needs to be picked up, we can try again tomorrow. “If your child is sent home and is not sick, it is legally a suspension and must be documented as such.
Get everything in writing from the school. For more detailed information, visit our Informal Suspensions Fact Sheet https://publicdefender.nashville.gov/wp-content/uploads/Ed-Rights-Informal-Suspensions.pdf
What if My Child has a Disability?
A student with an IEP or 504 Plan has the right to a meeting to examine the relationship between the student’s disability AND BEHAVIOR.
CALL A Meeting.
THE MEETING HAPPENS when:
• The school expels the student
• The school suspends the students for more than 10 days in a school year
• The school plans to file a juvenile petition against the student
Visit our full list of resources to help you prepare for your child’s advocacy https://educationrightsproject.nashville.gov/resources/
If you have questions or want to make a referral, contact our Education Rights Project. Our goal is to improve your students’ connection to their school and reduce the school’s use of exclusionary discipline through tools available under federal, state, and local law.
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100 Woodland Street Nashville, TN 37213
Call us: 615-862-8996 Email: educationrights@jisnashville.gov