Expulsion
Reasons for Expulsion
Reasons for expulsion are, but not limited to, the following offenses committed by students:
- Actions gravely detrimental to the moral and spiritual welfare of other students
- Habitual profanity or vulgarity
- Assault, battery or any threat of force or violence directed toward any school personnel or student
- Bullying, harassing or hazing school personnel or other students
- Open, persistent defiance of the authority of the teacher
- Continued willful disobedience
- Use, sale or possession of narcotics, drugs or any other controlled substance
- Use, sale, distribution, or possession of any alcoholic beverages on or near school premises
- Smoking or having tobacco
- Stealing
- Forging signatures
- Cheating or plagiarism
- Willful cutting, defacing or otherwise injuring in any way property, real or personal belonging to the school
- Habitual truancy
- Possession of harmful weapons (e.g., knives, guns, etc.) or materials that can be used as weapons
- Membership in, active involvement in, or affiliation with a gang or group responsible for coercive or violent activity
- Actions in or out of school which are detrimental to the school’s reputation
- Violation of the Electronic Use policies and guidelines
- Inappropriate conduct or behavior unbecoming a student in a Catholic school
Procedure for Expulsion
Except in cases involving grave offenses, the following steps must be taken:
- A conference must be held with the parents or guardians, student, teacher, and Principal present to advise the family that serious action is contemplated unless behavior improves immediately. In parish schools, the Pastor should be notified of the conference, given an opportunity to attend and provided a report of the discussion
- If behavior does not improve, the final decision will be announced at a second conference attended by the Principal, teacher, and parents or guardians. If the parents fail, without cause, to attend the conference, the Pastor, Principal, and teacher will reach a final decision. The final decision rests with the Pastor in consultation with the Principal
- In no case will a teacher on his or her own authority expel a student
- Full credit will be given for all work accomplished by the student up to the moment of expulsion
Written Record
- A written record of the steps leading to expulsion must be kept on file with copies of all communications and reports.
Cases Involving Grave Offenses
- In cases involving grave offenses, which may include a violation of criminal law or actions so outrageous as to shock the conscience or behavior of the community, the student is immediately suspended and there is no requirement to hold the initial parent-Principal conference
- The procedure involving cases of grave offenses is followed when the continued presence of the student at school (even for a short period of time) will, in the reasonable judgment of the Principal, pose a serious threat to the health and welfare of another student or students, or faculty members
- When immediate suspension is imposed, with probable expulsion, while the case is being investigated, the rules and the consequences of the violation should be clearly explained to the student and parents or guardians
Time of Expulsion
- An expulsion may be made immediately if the reasons are urgent
- Only in exceptional cases shall expulsion of an eighth grade student who has been in the school one or more years be allowed
- If an expulsion is to take place during the last quarter of the school year or during the last semester in the case of an eighth grade student, prior approval of the Department of Catholic Schools is required before the expulsion can take effect
- If such action is contemplated, approval shall be obtained before the announcement of the final decision to the parents at the meeting described below
Reporting of Expulsions
- All expulsions even if they occur at the end of the year, are reported to the elementary supervisor at the Department of Catholic Schools. The County Office of Education where the school is located may require notification of pupil expulsions.
Right to Make Exceptions
- The Principal, in consultation with the Pastor, retains the right to make exceptions in cases where mitigating circumstances call for a different response than policy suggests.
Home Study
- Circumstances may arise which dictate that a student, at the discretion of the Principal, be excluded from school attendance for a period of time. This is a remedy for unusual situations and is not considered a suspension. Students may be given tests, etc. outside school hours so that grades can be reported.
