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Toolkit: Make My School Safe

Texas Appleseed

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‹ What is a grievance, and how do I file one? Up Policy Recommendations ›

What's Inside

Sometimes it seems like principals decide randomly who to discipline and how to discipline them. Does the school have to consider anything in particular when making a disciplinary decision?
Does the school have to notify me if my child is punished or arrested at school?
My child has been suspended, expelled, or sent to an alternative school. I didn’t get a conference with the school administration or a chance to defend my child. What are my rights?
My child is in trouble at school, and the school says the punishment is “mandatory.” What does this mean?
My child was arrested off campus, and the school says that they are required to send my child to an alternative school. Is this true?
My child was arrested off campus for a violent felony but is innocent. My child is pleading not guilty, and we are fighting the charge. Can the school district still punish my child? What about “innocent until proven guilty?”
Are there any limits on in-school or out-of-school suspensions? How long can my child be suspended?
My child was assigned to an alternative school, but the school is holding my child in in-school suspension. Do the school days in in-school suspension count towards my child’s assigned sentence at the alternative school?
My child was assigned to an alternative school and was arrested and charged with trespassing while visiting a campus in our school district for an extracurricular event after school hours. Can the school district do that?
I disagree with my child’s punishment. I think the punishment is too harsh or I don’t think that my child did what the school says. What can I do?
School Discipline and Bullying
Does bullying have to happen more than once to count as bullying? What if the behavior happens online and not at school?
Now that I know more about bullying and what counts as bullying, I am sure that my child is being bullied. What can I do?
What is a grievance, and how do I file one?
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All Guides In This Toolkit

What Makes a School Safe
Police in Schools
Protecting Students’ Rights
Considerations for Students with Disabilities
Organizing and Changing Your School!
School Discipline

Written in partnership between Texas Appleseed, Disability Rights Texas, the Earl Carl Institute, and the now-closed Juvenile and Children's Advocacy Project - with pro bono support from Latham & Watkins LLP

This guide is not meant to provide legal advice, either general or specific. For legal advice, you should consult a lawyer. Legal aid or the Texas State Bar may be able to help you find a lawyer.