72-6115. Duration of suspension or expulsion; notice; hearings, opportunity afforded, waiver, time, who may conduct. (a) A suspension may be for a short term not exceeding 10 school days, or for an extended term not exceeding 90 school days. An expulsion may be for a term not exceeding 186 school days. If a suspension or expulsion is for a term exceeding the number of school days remaining in the school year, any remaining part of the term of the suspension or expulsion may be applied to the succeeding school year.

(b) (1) Except as authorized in provision (2), no suspension for a short term shall be imposed upon a pupil without giving the pupil notice of the charges and affording the pupil an opportunity for a hearing thereon. The notice may be oral or written and the hearing may be held immediately after the notice is given. The hearing may be conducted informally but shall include the following procedural due process requirements: (A) The right of the pupil to be present at the hearing; (B) the right of the pupil to be informed of the charges; (C) the right of the pupil to be informed of the basis for the accusation; and (D) the right of the pupil to make statements in defense or mitigation of the charges or accusations. Refusal of a pupil to be present at the hearing will constitute a waiver of the pupil's opportunity for a hearing.

(2) A short-term suspension may be imposed upon a pupil forthwith, and without affording the pupil a hearing if the presence of the pupil endangers other persons or property or substantially disrupts, impedes or interferes with the operation of the school.

(c) A written notice of any short-term suspension and the reason therefor shall be given to the pupil involved and to the pupil's parent or guardian within 24 hours after the suspension has been imposed and, in the event the pupil has not been afforded a hearing prior to any short-term suspension, an opportunity for an informal hearing shall be afforded the pupil as soon thereafter as practicable but in no event later than 72 hours after such short-term suspension has been imposed. Any notice of the imposition of a short-term suspension that provides an opportunity for an informal hearing after such suspension has been imposed shall state that failure of the pupil to attend the hearing will result in a waiver of the pupil's opportunity for the hearing.

(d) No suspension for an extended term and no expulsion shall be imposed upon a pupil until an opportunity for a formal hearing thereon is afforded the pupil. A written notice of any proposal to suspend for an extended term or to expel from school, and the charges upon which the proposal is based shall be given to the pupil proposed to be suspended or expelled from school, and to the pupil's parent or guardian. Any notice of a proposal to suspend for an extended term or to expel from school shall state the time, date and place that the pupil will be afforded an opportunity for a formal hearing, and that failure of the pupil and the pupil's parent or guardian to attend the hearing will result in a waiver of the pupil's opportunity for the hearing. The hearing shall be held not later than 10 days after the date of the notice. The notice shall be accompanied by a copy of this act and the regulations of the board of education adopted under K.S.A. 72-6116, and amendments thereto.

(e) Whenever any written notice is required under this act to be given to a pupil or to a pupil's parent or guardian, it shall be sufficient if the notice is mailed to the address on file in the school records of the pupil. In lieu of mailing the written notice, the notice may be personally delivered.

(f) A formal hearing on a suspension or expulsion may be conducted by any person or committee of persons authorized by the board of education to conduct the hearing.

History: L. 1970, ch. 300, § 2; L. 1971, ch. 247, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 304, § 1; L. 1977, ch. 260, § 1; L. 1982, ch. 303, § 1; L. 1994, ch. 307, § 2; L. 1995, ch. 142, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 116, § 38; L. 2000, ch. 138, § 7; July 1.