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Suspensions and Expulsions

Suspension and Expulsion Guide

Suspension and Alternatives to Suspension for Ed. Code Violations 

Updated June 2023

Suspension from school means removal of a student from ongoing instruction for adjustment purpose. A principal or the principal’s designee may suspend a pupil from the school (not more than five consecutive school days) for any of the reasons in the Educational Code, Section 48900, upon a first offense if the principal or designee determines that the pupil violated Educational Code 48900, or that pupil’s presence causes a danger to persons or property, or threatens to disrupt the educational process. A student may be suspended or expelled for any of the acts listed below if the act is related to a school activity or occurs during school attendance occurring at any District school under the jurisdiction of the Superintendent or principal or within any other school District, including but not limited to the following circumstances:

  1. While on school grounds; 
  2. While going to or coming from school; 
  3. During the lunch period, whether on or off the school campus; 
  4. During, going to, or coming from a school-sponsored activity; and/or 
  5. With a nexis or connection to the campus with impact on the school campus.

SMUHSD Incident Statement Form: Students and staff may use this form to make statements for site admin and district admin access. 

Students may be suspended, or recommended for expulsion for violation of California Education Code 48900 or 48915:  

  • Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened physical injury to another person.
  • Willfully used force or violence upon the person of another, except in self-defense.
  • Possessed, sold, or furnished firearms, explosives, imitation firearms, or dangerous objects.
  • Possessed, sold, or furnished or under the influence of a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage or intoxicant.
  • Offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell a controlled substance, then sold, delivered, furnished a substance in lieu of a controlled substance.
  • Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.
  • Caused or attempted to cause damage to private or school property.
  • Stole or attempted to steal private or school property.
  • Possessed or used tobacco.
  • Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity/vulgarity.
  • Offered, arranged or negotiated to sell or possess any drug paraphernalia.
  • Disrupted school activities, or willfully defied school personnel in the performance of their duty.
  • Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.
  • Possessed an imitation firearm.
  • Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault or sexual battery.
  • Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a pupil who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding.
  • Offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell or sold the drug Soma.
  • Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing.
  • Engaged in an act of bullying, including but not limited to bullying committed by means of an electronic act, directed toward a pupil or school personnel
  • Aids or abets the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person.
  • Committed sexual harassment.
  • Caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause or participated in an act of hate violence.
  • Harassment, threats, or intimidation directed against a pupil or a group of pupils.
  • Committing terroristic threats against a school official, school property or both.