An Administrator's Guide to California Private School Law Compendium

C HAPTER 15 – S TUDENT D ISCIPLINE D OCUMENT 15.A

C HECKLIST R EGARDING S TUDENT D ISCIPLINE

STUDENT DISCIPLINE MUST BE FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR “Fundamentally fair” means that the school has a discipline process in place that includes some level of review/appeal of a discipline decision, and that the school follows its own process before imposition of discipline. Adherence to Disciplinary Procedures:  Have a process in place for handling student discipline, including suspensions, expulsions and dismissals:  The disciplinary process should be clearly communicated to students and families: typically, the process is contained in the student handbook.  Be sure to follow the disciplinary process adopted by the school.  If the school discovers a defect in the implementation of its disciplinary process, it should immediately correct it: promptly correcting mistakes can “cure” the mistakes in most instances.  The disciplinary process should include some level of review/appeal of a discipline decision. Discipline Supported by Substantial Evidence: (The following are recommendations for best practices, but please be reminded that schools must always be following their current process or procedure.)

The evidence relied on must support the discipline: 



A decision to discipline should be supported by substantial evidence.

 Take steps to verify the accuracy of evidence relied upon in reaching a decision to discipline, and make sure that any report or other written document setting forth the basis for the discipline does not contain factual errors.

An Administrator’s Guide to California Private School Law - Compendium ©2019 Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 221