Suspended Or Expelled
Educ. Code 48911 — no more than five consecutive schooldays, after an informal conference, and Educ. Code 48918 — the expulsion hearing
| The question | Suspension | Expulsion |
|---|---|---|
| The questionWho decides | SuspensionThe principal, the principal's designee, or the district superintendent | ExpulsionThe governing board, after a hearing |
| The questionHow long, or how soon | SuspensionNo more than five consecutive schooldays | ExpulsionThe hearing within 30 schooldays after the determination, unless the pupil asks in writing to postpone it |
| The questionWhat comes first | SuspensionAn informal conference | ExpulsionA hearing to determine whether the pupil should be expelled |
Other means come first. Suspension is imposed only when other means of correction fail to bring about proper conduct. A pupil may be suspended on a first offense only for the most serious grounds the code lists, or where the pupil's presence causes a danger to persons. Other means include a conference with the parent, referrals to counselors and support staff, study or guidance teams, and assessments.
The informal conference. A suspension is preceded by an informal conference between the pupil and, whenever practicable, the school employee who made the referral. The pupil is told the reason for the action, the other means of correction tried before it, and the evidence, and is given the opportunity to present the pupil's version and evidence in defense.
In an emergency. A pupil may be suspended without a conference only if an emergency situation exists, meaning a clear and present danger to the life, safety or health of pupils or school personnel. Then the pupil and parent are notified of the right to a conference, and it is held within two schooldays unless the pupil waives it or cannot attend.
The parent. At the time of suspension, a school employee makes a reasonable effort to contact the parent or guardian in person, by email or by telephone, and the parent is notified of the suspension in writing. No penalty is imposed on the pupil because a parent does not attend a conference, and reinstatement does not depend on the parent attending.
The expulsion hearing's clock. The pupil is entitled to at least one postponement of an expulsion hearing, for not more than 30 calendar days. Within 10 schooldays after the hearing ends, the governing board decides whether to expel, unless the pupil asks in writing to postpone the decision.
A district's own code of conduct and board rules fill in much of the detail, and they are not on this page. How a particular suspension applies to a particular student is a question for a licensed California attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- Educ. Code 48911 — Suspension by principal; informal conference
- Educ. Code 48900.5 — Suspension only when other means of correction fail
- Educ. Code 48918 — Expulsion hearing procedures
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.