Regulation 2672 – Discipline of Students with Disabilities
Removal from Current Educational Placement for Not More Than Ten Consecutive School Days; Not More Than Ten Cumulative Days Removal for the Current School Year
A student with a disability who violates the District’s discipline policy who has not been
removed from the current educational placement for more than ten (10) cumulative days for the
current school year may be disciplined for not more than ten (10) consecutive school days in the
same manner as other students.
Services will not be provided to the student when the total number of days the students has been
removed from the current educational placement is not more than ten (10) days, unless services
are provided to children without disabilities who have been similarly removed.
Removal from Current Educational Placement for More than Ten Cumulative School Days
A student with a disability who violates the District’s discipline policy who has been removed
from the current educational placement for more than ten (10) cumulative days in the current
school year may be disciplined for not more than ten (10) consecutive school days in the same
manner as other students, if the pattern of short term exclusions totaling more than ten (10)
cumulative days does not constitute a change of placement.
On the eleventh day of removal in a school year, the District will provide educational services. If
the cumulative removals do not constitute a change of placement, the services to be provided will
be determined by school personnel in consultation with the student’s special education teacher.
A series of removals from the current educational placement for more than ten (10) days may
amount to a pattern of exclusion that constitutes a change of placement. If a student with a
disability has been removed for more than ten (10) cumulative school days and the removals
constitute a change of placement, or if a school administrator determines that a removal for more
than ten (10) consecutive school days is being considered, on the date a decision to make such a
removal is made, the parents will be notified of the decision and provided a copy of the IDEA
procedural safeguards.
Not later than ten (10) business days after commencing a cumulative removal that constitutes a
change of placement or when considering a removal of greater than ten (10) consecutive school
days, the District will convene an IEP meeting to develop a functional behavioral assessment
plan if one has not previously been conducted. After completing the assessment, an IEP meeting
will be held to develop a behavioral intervention plan if appropriate and necessary. If a behavior
plan already has been developed, the IEP team will meet to review the plan and its
implementation. The plan and its implementation will be modified as necessary.
In addition, not later than ten (10) days after the date of the decision to remove a student for
more than ten (10) cumulative days constituting a change of placement, the IEP team and other
qualified personnel will meet to review the relationship between the student’s disability and the
behavior subject to disciplinary action.
If a determination is made that the student’s behavior was not a manifestation of the student’s
disability, disciplinary rules will be applied to the student in the same manner they would be
applied to a student without a disability, except that a free appropriate public education will be
provided to the student as determined by the IEP team.
Long-Term Changes in Placement (Drugs, Weapons, and Serious Injury)
In addition to any other actions consistent with this regulation, District administrators may assign
a student to an interim alternative educational setting for a period of time not to exceed forty-five
(45) calendar days, when a student with a disability is involved in a disciplinary action involving:
- Possession of a weapon at school or at a school function; or
- Possession or use of illegal drugs or sale or solicitation for sale of a controlled substance
while at school or at a school function; or - A serious bodily injury.
On the date a decision to make such a removal is made, the parents/guardians will be notified of
the decision and provided a copy of the IDEA procedural safeguards.
Not later than ten (10) business days after commencing such a removal, the District will convene
an IEP meeting to develop a functional behavioral assessment plan if one has not been
previously conducted. After completing the assessment, an IEP meeting will be held to develop
a behavioral intervention plan if appropriate and necessary. If a behavior plan already has been
developed, the IEP team will meet to review the plan and its implementation. The plan and its
implementation will be modified as needed.
Not later than ten (10) days after the date of the decision to place a student in an interim
alternative educational setting, the IEP team and other qualified personnel will meet to review
the relationship between the student’s disability and the behavior subject to the disciplinary
action and to determine the interim alternative educational placement.
The IEP team will decide on an interim alternative educational setting that will allow the student
to continue to progress in the general curriculum, to receive the services and modifications that will enable the child to meet the goals set out in the student’s IEP, and to receive services and modifications to attempt to prevent the student’s behavior from recurring.
IDEA Disabled Students
Students who are disabled pursuant to the IDEA will be disciplined pursuant to the IDEA
as amended an its implementing regulations, as well as applicable state statutes and the Missouri
State Plan for Special Education Regulations Implementing Part B of the IDEA.
Section 504 Disabled Students
The following procedures apply to students who are disabled pursuant to Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act alone (students who are not disabled pursuant to the IDEA). In general,
most 504 students should be expected to follow the District’s disciplinary policies, rules,
regulations and procedures and this should be noted on the 504 Plan. When determining a
student’s 504 eligibility, the multidisciplinary team should consider whether the impairment that
is substantially limiting has a direct impact on a student’s behavior and, if so, the team may
consider conducting a functional behavioral assessment as part of the student’s evaluation. If the
team concludes that the impairment has a direct and substantial relationship to the student’s
behavior, the team should address the behavior through the 504 Plan and should consider
whether a behavior plan is necessary for the student to have an equal opportunity to participate.
Under Section 504, a disciplinary removal from a student’s placement for more than 10
consecutive school days constitutes a change of placement and requires certain procedures be
followed. When a student is suspended, out of school, for more than 10 consecutive school days
or when a student’s short term removals (10 days or less) constitute a pattern of exclusion as
currently defined by the IDEA, the District will, within 10 school days of the date of the decision
to change the student’s placement through a disciplinary removal, convene a multidisciplinary
team to determine if the student’s act of misconduct is related to his or her disability. The
multidisciplinary team will apply the IDEA manifestation standard that is in place at that time.
Prior to, or as part of the manifestation determination, the team will conduct a reevaluation
pursuant to Section 504. Such reevaluation may consist of a review of existing data alone or in
conjunction with formal assessments. The parents will be invited to attend but are not required
participants.
If the team concludes that the student’s misconduct is related to his or her disability, the
student can be suspended for up through 10 consecutive school days with no educational services
provided or for any amount of cumulative school days, so long as a pattern of exclusion is not
created. If deemed necessary, the team may need to convene to determine if a change of
educational placement may be needed or if the student should be referred under the IDEA.
If the team concludes that the student’s misconduct is unrelated to his or her disability,
the student will be treated the same as nondisabled students and may be suspended or expelled
according to District policy and the Student Code of Conduct. District administrators will
determine the appropriate discipline including, but not limited to, a long-term suspension or
expulsion. During the period of disciplinary removal, the District will not provide any
educational services to the student unless it provides such services to its nondisabled students in
similar circumstances.
A student is not considered to be disabled under Section 504 if he or she is currently
engaged in the illegal use of drugs when the District is acting on the basis of that use. Therefore,
when a 504 student is being disciplined for the current illegal use of a controlled substances
(including alcohol), that student will lose his or her 504 protection and will be disciplined as if he
or she was a regular education student. No manifestation determination will be held.
Definitions
Illegal Drug means a controlled substance not including drugs legally used or possessed under
the supervision of a health care professional.
Weapon means a weapon, device, instrument, material, or substance, animate or inanimate, that
is used for, or is readily capable of, causing death or serious bodily injury.
Controlled substance means a drug or other substance identified under schedules I, II, III, IV or
V in21 U.S.C. § 812 (c).