File:  JKG* - Expulsion Prevention

NOTE: Colorado school boards are required by law to adopt a policy on this subject and the law contains some specific direction as to the content or language. This sample contains the content/language that CASB believes best meets the intent of the law. However, the board should consult with its own legal counsel to determine appropriate language that meets local circumstances and needs.

It is the belief of the Board that available interventions and prevention services should be explored to help students who are at risk of expulsion before expulsion becomes a necessary consequence. The principal of each school shall work with the professional staff to identify students who are at risk of suspension or expulsion. Among those students who may be at risk are those who are truant, who have been or are likely to be declared habitually truant, or who are likely to be declared habitually disruptive.

The district, working with the student's parent/guardian, shall provide students who are identified as at risk of suspension or expulsion with a plan to provide necessary support services to help them avoid expulsion. Services may include:

1.  educational services (tutoring, alternative educational programs or career and technical education programs that provide instruction in the academic areas of reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies)

2. counseling services

3. drug or alcohol addiction treatment programs, and/or

4. family preservation services.

In some cases, a remedial discipline plan may be the means by which various intervention and prevention services are identified and made available to a student. Support services may be provided through agreements with appropriate local governmental agencies, appropriate state agencies, community-based organizations and institutions of higher education.

The failure of the school district to identify a student for participation in an expulsion prevention program or the failure of such program to remediate a student's behavior shall not be grounds to prevent school personnel from proceeding with appropriate disciplinary measures including but not limited to suspension and/or expulsion.

(Adoption date)

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-14-101 et seq. (dropout prevention and student re-engagement)

C.R.S. 22-33-202 (identification of at-risk students)

C.R.S. 22-33-204 (services for at-risk students)

C.R.S. 22-33-204.5 (students in facility schools shall be considered at-risk)

C.R.S. 22-33-205 (grants for services to expelled, at-risk and truant students)

CROSS REF.: JKD/JKE, Suspension/Expulsion of Students

[Revised June 2013]

COLORADO SAMPLE POLICY 1998