North Dakota schools must weigh student circumstances when setting expulsions

School districts may expel students for up to 12 months and must weigh the offense’s seriousness, the student’s age, and past discipline when setting the length. The 12-month limit covers students, including those in alternative education programs, expelled for refusing school authority, repeated lack of effort, or disruptive behavior. A district may review and shorten an expulsion if the student meets any conditions it sets for returning. Weapons policy violations follow the separate expulsion rules in section 15.1-19-10.

School districts may suspend students for refusing school authority, repeated lack of effort, disruptive behavior, or violating a district weapons policy. These suspension rules cover students in North Dakota school districts. The 20-day limit applies only to students in alternative education programs eligible for state payments per student.

School boards must adopt discipline rules that provide a hearing before deciding to expel a student. A student’s parent or representative must be allowed to participate in the expulsion hearing. The hearing must follow the process in subsection 2 of section 15.1-19-10.