California School Expulsion Attorneys

What You Need to Know About School Expulsion Hearings

Wallin & Klarich is one of the few criminal defense firms in Southern California with experience defending minors who are facing school expulsion hearings. As such, we can put our decades of experience in the field of criminal defense to work in your child's case.

Statistics from a UCLA study show that 18,692 California public school students were expelled during the 2002-2003 school year; another 396,000 were suspended. Minorities and students whose first language isn't English are expelled disproportionately in California, the study found. And despite decades of studies, scientists have found little evidence that expelling or suspending students makes schools safer -- but they have found that expelled students are likely to get into more serious trouble after their expulsion. As we all know a school expulsion will disrupt a students education dramatically.

Expulsion and suspension proceedings have two parts. In the first part, a panel of three teachers from another school hears testimony in the case. This includes testimony from school officials, the student and anyone speaking on behalf of him or her. The panel can then recommend that the student go back to school as normal, be suspended from school, be expelled from the school and moved to another school in the district (including special disciplinary schools), or expelled from the district completely.

Prior to the panel's decision becoming final, it must be submitted to the school board board for review -- the second half of the process. This board has the power to stop even automatic expulsions, by suspending the expulsion. It will make its decision using written testimony from the three-teacher panel, but may also hear a limited amount of new testimony. The school board's decision is final.

Parents or guardians upset about a possible suspension or expulsion may be intimidated by these hearings, which are administrative proceedings without the Constitutional protections we enjoy in a court of law. But Wallin & Klarich has many years of experience that can help us achieve the best result possible in your child's case. Our goal is to keep your child in the same school or the same district, getting the best available education. We have experienced Orange County suspension hearing attorneys ready to represent your family in these matters.

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