Nevada School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Limitations or Conditions on Exclusionary Discipline

Discipline Compendium

Nevada School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Limitations or Conditions on Exclusionary Discipline

Category: Exclusionary Discipline: Suspension, Expulsion, and Alternative Placement
Subcategory: Limitations or Conditions on Exclusionary Discipline
State: Nevada

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LAWS

NRS 388.900. Regulations concerning identification and consideration of certain social and environmental factors.

The State Board shall adopt regulations that require:

1. The board of trustees of each school district and the governing body of each charter school to identify the social and environmental factors that affect the educational experience of pupils at each school in the district or the charter school, as applicable, and provide a description of those factors to the Department; and

2. The Department, the board of trustees of each school district, the governing body of each charter school and the staff of each public school to consider the factors identified pursuant to subsection 1 for a school when making decisions concerning the school or interacting with and making decisions concerning the staff of the school or pupils enrolled at the school. Such decisions include, without limitation, decisions concerning the allocation of money, the provision of integrated student supports pursuant to NRS 388.885, evaluations of members of the staff of the school pursuant to NRS 391.650 to 391.826, inclusive, salaries of members of the staff of the school and the discipline of pupils.

NRS 392.46335. Prohibition against disciplining pupils based on race.

1.  A pupil enrolled in a public school may not be disciplined, including, without limitation, pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 386.855 or NRS 392.466 or 392.467, based on the race of the pupil. 2.  As used in this section:

(a) “Protective hairstyle” includes, without limitation, hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists.

(b) “Race” includes traits associated with race, including, without limitation, hair texture and protective hairstyles.

NRS 392.4634. Prohibition against disciplining certain pupils for simulating firearm or dangerous weapon or wearing clothing or accessories that depict firearm or dangerous weapon;  prohibition against adoption of conflicting policy, ordinance or regulation.

1. A pupil enrolled in kindergarten or grades 1 to 8, inclusive, may not be disciplined, including, without limitation, pursuant to NRS 392.466, for:

(a) Simulating a firearm or dangerous weapon while playing; or

(b) Wearing clothing or accessories that depict a firearm or dangerous weapon or express an opinion regarding a constitutional right to keep and bear arms, unless it substantially disrupts the educational environment, , creates a risk of harm to another person or places another person in reasonable fear of harm. 

2. Simulating a firearm or dangerous weapon includes, without limitation:

(a) Brandishing a partially consumed pastry or other food item to simulate a firearm or dangerous weapon;

(b) Possessing a toy firearm or toy dangerous weapon that is 2 inches or less in length;

(c) Possessing a toy firearm or toy dangerous weapon made of plastic building blocks which snap together;

(d) Using a finger or hand to simulate a firearm or dangerous weapon;

(e) Drawing a picture or possessing an image of a firearm or dangerous weapon; and

(f) Using a pencil, pen or other writing or drawing implement to simulate a firearm or dangerous weapon.

The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit a school from establishing and enforcing a policy requiring pupils to wear a school uniform as authorized pursuant to NRS 386.855.

4. As used in this section:

(a) "Dangerous weapon" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 392.466.

(b) "Firearm" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 392.466.

NRS 392.466. Plan of action for pupil who engages in battery on employee of school, possession of firearm or dangerous weapon or sale or distribution of controlled substance or is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem; appeal by employee who is victim of battery; suspension, expulsion or permanent expulsion of such pupils; immediate removal of pupil in possession of firearm; modification to suspension or expulsion by certain school officials; limitations for pupils with disabilities, homeless pupils and pupils in foster care

16. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil sells or distributes any controlled substance while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus shall meet with the school and his or her parent or legal guardian. The school shall provide a plan of action based on restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The pupil may be suspended, expelled, or permanently expelled from the school, except that:

(a) A pupil who is less than 11 years of age may not be expelled or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection.

(b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended pursuant to this subsection, and the suspension must be reviewed and approved by the superintendent of the school district or the administrative head of the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee.

(c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or expelled pursuant to this subsection, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate public education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each school day the pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 10 cumulative days.

17. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who commits a battery against an employee of the school while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus shall meet with the school and his or her parent or legal guardian. The school shall provide a plan of action based on restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The pupil may be suspended, expelled or permanently expelled from the school, except that:  

(a) A pupil who is less than 8 years of age may not be expelled or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection.

(b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended pursuant to this subsection, and the suspension must be reviewed and approved by the superintendent of the school district or the administrative head of the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee.

(c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or expelled pursuant to this subsection, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate public education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each school day the pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 10 cumulative days.

3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who commits a battery which is intended to result in the bodily injury of an employee of the school while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus shall meet with the school and his or her parent or legal guardian. The school shall provide a plan of action based on restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The pupil shall be suspended, expelled or permanently expelled from the school, except that:

(a) A pupil who is less than 8 years of age may not be expelled or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection.

(b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended pursuant to this subsection, and the suspension must be reviewed and approved by the superintendent of the school district or the administrative head of the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee.

(c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or expelled pursuant to this subsection, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate public education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each school day the pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 10 cumulative days.

4. An employee who is a victim of a battery which is intended to result in the bodily injury of an employee of the school may appeal to the school a plan of action provided pursuant to subsection 3 if:

(a) The employee feels any actions taken pursuant to such plan are inappropriate; and

(b) For a pupil with a disability who committed the battery, the board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or its designee has reviewed the circumstances and determined that such an appeal is in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq

5. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil, including, without limitation, a pupil with a disability, who poses a continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process or who is found in possession of a dangerous weapon other than a firearm while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus may be removed from the public school immediately upon being given an explanation of the reasons for the removal of the pupil and pending proceedings, which must be conducted as soon as practicable after removal, for his or her suspension, expulsion, or permanent expulsion, except that:  

18. If a school is unable to retain a pupil in the school pursuant to subsection 1 to 6 for the safety of any person or because doing so would not be in the best interest of the pupil, the pupil may be suspended, expelled or placed in another school. If a pupil, including without limitation, a pupil who is less than 11 year of age is placed in another school, the current school of the pupil shall explain what services will be provided to the pupil at the new school that the current school is unable to provide to address the specific needs and behaviors of the pupil. The current school of the pupil shall coordinate with the new school to create a plan of action based on restorative justice for the pupil and to ensure that any resources required to execute the plan of action based on restorative justice are available at the new school.

19. Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a pupil is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem pursuant to NRS 392.4655, and the school has made a reasonable effort to complete a plan of action based on restorative justice with the pupil, based on the seriousness of the acts which were the basis for the discipline, the pupil may be:

(a) Suspended from the school for a period not to exceed one school semester as determined by the seriousness of the acts which were the basis for the discipline; or

(b) Expelled from the school under extraordinary circumstances as determined by the principal of the school. 

20. If the pupil is expelled, or the period of the pupil’s suspension is for one school semester, the pupil must:

(a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

(b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program. 

21. The superintendent of schools of a school district may, for good cause shown in a particular case in that school district, allow a modification to a suspension or expulsion pursuant to subsections 1 to 5, inclusive, if such modification is set forth in writing. The superintendent shall allow such a modification if the superintendent determines that a plan of action based on restorative justice may be used successfully.

22. This section does not prohibit a pupil from having in his or her possession a knife or firearm with the approval of the principal of the school. A principal may grant such approval only in accordance with the policies or regulations adopted by the board of trustees of the school district.

23. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a pupil who is not more than 10 years of age must not be permanently expelled from school. In extraordinary circumstances, a school may request an exception to this subsection from the board of trustees of the school district. A pupil who is at least 11 years of age may be suspended from school or permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section only after the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and approved this action in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board for such issues. 

24. A pupil who is at least 11 years of age and who is participating in a program of special education pursuant to NRS 388.419 may, in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board of trustees of the school district for such matters and only after the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and determined that the action is in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., be: 

(a) Suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more than 10 days. Such a suspension may be imposed pursuant to this paragraph for each occurrence of conduct proscribed by subsection 1.

(b)  Expelled from school pursuant to this section.

(c) Permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section.

25. A homeless pupil or a pupil in foster care who is at least 11 years of age may be suspended or expelled from school pursuant to this section only if a determination is made that the behavior that led to the consideration for suspension or expulsion was not caused by homelessness or being in foster care. The person responsible for making a determination of whether or not the behavior was caused by homelessness or being in foster care shall presume that the behavior was caused by homelessness or being in foster care unless the person determines that the behavior was not caused by homelessness or being in foster care pursuant to this subsection. A determination that the behavior was not caused by homelessness must be made in consultation with the local educational agency liaison for homeless pupils designated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301 et seq., or a contact person at a school, including, without limitation, a school counselor or school social worker. A determination that the behavior was not caused by being in foster care must be made in consultation with an advocate for pupils in foster care at the school in which the pupil is in enrolled or the school counselor of the pupil.

26. As used in this section:

(a) “Battery” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 of NRS 200.481.

(b) “Dangerous weapon” includes, without limitation, a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sand-club, sandbag, metal knuckles, dirk or dagger, a nunchaku or trefoil, as defined in NRS 202.350, a butterfly knife or any other knife described in NRS 202.350, a switchblade knife as defined in NRS 202.265, or any other object which is used, or threatened to be used, in such a manner and under such circumstances as to pose a threat of, or cause, bodily injury to a person.

(c) “Firearm” includes, without limitation, any pistol, revolver, shotgun, explosive substance or device, and any other item included within the definition of a “firearm” in 18 U.S.C. § 921, as that section existed on July 1, 1995.

(d) “Foster care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20.

(e) “Homeless pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term “homeless children and youths” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2).

(f) “Restorative justice” has the meaning ascribed to it in subsection 6 of NRS 392.472.

(g) “Unaccompanied pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term “unaccompanied youth” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6).

27. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a pupil who is suspended or expelled from enrolling in a charter school that is designed exclusively for the enrollment of pupils with disciplinary problems if the pupil is accepted for enrollment by the charter school pursuant to NRS 388A.453 or 388A.456. Upon request, the governing body of a charter school must be provided with access to the records of the pupil relating to the pupil’s suspension or expulsion in accordance with applicable federal and state law before the governing body makes a decision concerning the enrollment of the pupil. 

 

NRS 392.467. Suspension or expulsion of pupil: Procedure; limitations.

1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 5 and 6 and NRS 392.466, the board of trustees of a school district the governing body of a charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or it’s designee may authorize the suspension or expulsion of any pupil who is at least 6 years of age but less than 11 years of age must not be expelled or permanently expelled from school. In extraordinary circumstances, a school may request an exception to the prohibition set forth in this subsection against expelling or permanently expelling a pupil who is less than 11 years of age from school from the board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of the charter school or university school, as applicable.

2. A pupil who is less than 6 years of age must not be permanently expelled from school.

3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, no pupil may be suspended or expelled until the pupil has been given notice of the charges against him or her, an explanation of the evidence and an opportunity to schedule a hearing, except that a pupil who:

(a) Poses a continuing danger to persons or property;

(b) Is an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process;

(c) Is selling or distributing any controlled substance; or

(d) Is found to be in possession of a firearm or a dangerous weapon as provided in NRS 392.46,6 may be removed from the school immediately upon being given an explanation of the reasons for his or her removal and pending proceedings, to be conducted as soon as practicable after removal, for the pupil’s suspension or expulsion.

4. The provisions of chapter 241 of NRS do not apply to any hearing or proceeding conducted pursuant to this section. Such hearings or proceedings must be closed to the public.

5. The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of a charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or its designee shall not authorize the expulsion, suspension or removal of any pupil from the public school system solely for offenses related to attendance or because the pupil is declared a truant or habitual truant in accordance with NRS 392.130 or 392.140.

6. A pupil with a disability may, in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of the charter school or university school  for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, for such matters and only after an administrative review of the circumstances and a determination that the action is in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., be:

(a) Suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more than 10 days for each occurrence. of proscribed conduct.

(b) Expelled from school pursuant to this section

(c) Permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section.

7. A homeless pupil or a pupil in foster care may be suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more than 5 days if, following a review of all available information, the principal determines that the conduct of the pupil poses an ongoing threat to the pupil or other persons at the school and if a determination is made that homelessness or being in foster care was not a factor in the behavior that led to the consideration for suspension or expulsion. The person responsible for making a determination of whether or not homelessness or being in foster care was a factor in the behavior shall presume that homelessness or being in foster care was not a factor in the behavior unless the person determines otherwise pursuant to this subsection. A determination that homelessness was not a factor in the behavior must be made in consultation with the local educational agency liaison for homeless pupils designated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301 et seq., or a contact person at a school, including, without limitation, a school counselor or school social worker. A determination that being in foster care was not a factor in the behavior must be made in consultation with an advocate for pupils in foster care at the school in which the pupil is enrolled or the school counselor of the pupil. 

8. As used in this section:

(a) “Foster care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 45 C.F.R. § 1355.20.

(b) “Homeless pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term “homeless children and youths” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2).

(c) "Permanently expelled" means the disciplinary removal of a pupil from the school in which the pupil is currently enrolled:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2), without the possibility of returning to the school in which the pupil is currently enrolled or another public school within the school district; and

(2) With the possibility of enrolling in a program or public school for alternative education for pupils who are expelled or permanently expelled after being permanently expelled.

REGULATIONS

No relevant regulations found.

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