School Expulsion & Suspension Hearings Overview: California Education Code Section 48900

At first glance, school expulsion and suspension hearings appear to be informal administrative actions that parents may feel an attorney is not required.  Unfortunately, these hearings have tremendous consequences on your child and their educational future.  It is critical that you speak to an attorney regarding your child’s hearing.  Any decisions made during the hearing will have a strong impact on you child’s life.  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. This is where we can assist you.  We will look at every element of the allegations against your child.  We can organize your child’s defense and provide the panel with easy to read outlines on why your child should not be expelled.  These teachers see troubled kids everyday and want to help, but often times the kids do not want the help.  Having our attorneys by your side also shows that the parents and the child are serious about fighting the charges.  We can help you defend any false allegations or argue why your child deserves a second chance.

Consequences resulting from an unfavorable result can cause your child to be expelled from the school or the entire district.  This causes a burden for the parents to locate their child to alternative education institutions that are farther from their home and place of employment.

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. The attorneys at Wallin and Klarich understand the importance of keeping your child in school.  Our school suspension hearing attorneys have over 30 years of experience in representing parents in different school districts all over Southern California.  If your child is faced with expulsion or a school suspension hearing, contact the experienced attorneys at Wallin and Klarich today at (888) 280-6839.  We will be there for you and your child when you call.