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It’s any normal day. You’re at work, doing work stuff, and you get a call from the principal at your son’s school: he’s been suspended for three days for roughhousing on the bus. Or, maybe he’s already had a few mishaps in behavior and is now facing a much longer suspension. Or, maybe it’s a more serious offense and school personnel are already talking about expulsion proceedings. What can you, as a parent, do in response to these situations?

Before we discuss what you can do, I think it’s important to recognize the difference between the following natural consequences.

In-School Suspension (ISS): An in-school suspension is when your child is taken out of her regular classes and put into a separate room. She will need to complete all of her daily work and also spend her lunch break in this one room. This is probably the easier one to deal with as a parent because it doesn’t change your family’s daily routine much at all.

Out-of-School Suspension (OSS): An out-of-school suspension is usually a number of days when your child is not allowed to go to school, be on school grounds nor attend any school functions. The number of days can vary depending upon the severity of the behavior, whether or not there have been previous suspensions or other mitigating factors. If your child is not of an age where he can stay home alone, you will need to come up with some sort of plan for having him supervised during the day.

Expulsion: An expulsion, on the other hand, is a more serious consequence. Your child is basically removed from the school rosters and not allowed to attend school or school-related activities for a much longer period of time (a year or more). Sometimes, this may also include not being allowed on school property for any reason, even to attend a sibling’s sporting event, concert or graduation. While suspensions are usually instituted by the principal or vice principals of a school, an expulsion is a process that involves going before the school board or other educational administrative personnel for a hearing. It would be determined at this hearing whether or not your child will be expelled. Your child would also be allowed legal representation at this hearing.

(This is a general overview. The exact process may differ depending upon your state/school district. There are specific laws and time lines that must be adhered to in each case. If your child is facing expulsion, I would encourage you to speak with a lawyer who specializes in school law. You could also speak with someone in the Department of Education for your state about what the specific laws are. )

After the Phone Call: How to Handle the Suspension or Expulsion

I point out these differences above because many parents naturally panic when they get this call and it’s easy to respond in a manner that is less than effective. This panic is a pretty normal response which can lead to futurizing: “What is this going to mean for my child now and later on down the road?” It may be helpful to take a little time to process the information so you can address the issue with your child in as calm a manner as possible. I have even suggested to some parents when they contact the parent coaching service about this that they not talk with their child about what happened until the following day. It can help to look at it this way: your child is suspended, and yelling and screaming at him isn’t going to change that fact. Take some space from the issue can help you calm down and look at the situation from the perspective of “What do I want my child to learn here?”  When you’re able to talk with your child in a calm, rational manner, there’s a greater chance you can find out what his perception of the situation is — and possibly even problem solve with him about what he can do differently in the future.

Many parents question what they should do for consequences at home when their child has been suspended. Understandable question, but remember that there is already a consequence in place. While you don’t want this time off from school to be a vacation, taking away all of your child’s privileges isn’t going to teach him more. Instead, you might consider having him earn his privileges  each day by doing any school work that may have been sent home, having him work on any past-due work he owes, or having him work on chores during the time he would be in school. If possible, have him get up at the same time as he would for school. You don’t want to turn this into a power struggle, however. The way you solve this: if he’s not getting up and doing the work, he doesn’t earn his privileges. This may mean suspending his cell service, and taking the game controllers and/or internet router with you to work. Don’t expect him to limit his own behavior by not playing video games or spending the day on the computer; instead, set limits and take charge.  (When the issue is expulsion, the concept would be similar, but on a much longer time frame. Again, you don’t want the time out of school to be a vacation.)

If your child is on an IEP: As a side note, if your child is on an IEP, there are other procedures that must be followed, as outlined in IDEA 2004 (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). For example, if your child is suspended for more than 10 days, an alternative education plan has to be instituted. I actually got my start working in Special Education when I was employed by a school district to be a tutor for kids in this situation. Some districts have off-site alternative education programs for this purpose. Keep in mind that this alternative placement cannot go beyond 45 school days, however.  One thing that is  different for kids who receive Special Services and have an IEP is they must receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and, even in cases where the child is expelled, the school district must develop an education plan for your child.

Another thing that has to happen when a child who has an IEP is suspended for more than 10 days (total, not necessarily consecutive) is a Manifestation Determination meeting has to be scheduled. It will be determined at this meeting whether or not the action/behavior that resulted in suspension was a manifestation of the child’s specific disability and whether or not the IEP was not only appropriate but being implemented accordingly by the school.

School districts are required to send out a Notice of Parents’ Rights in Special Education Procedural Safeguards. It has been my experience that often these safeguards are written in “legalese,” in really tiny print and it’s a challenge for many parents to read and understand them. I would encourage you to talk with the Special Education director in your school district if you have any questions. There are many other rules and regulations outlined in IDEA, too many to cover in this short blog post. You might even consider finding out if there is an advocate, either through the district or your State Department of Education, available who would be able to walk you through these procedural safeguards and answer any questions you may have.

A final word: getting “that call” can feel like an endgame, but in reality, you can try looking at it as more of an intervention or a “call to action,” that gives you the opportunity to work with your child to develop better ways of dealing with challenging situations.

There are many other tools in The Total Transformation Program that will help you respond to your child’s behavior more effectively, helping you turn what seems like a hopeless situation into one with a much more promising outlook. Believe me, there is hope — I help parents find it every single day.

Related content:
When Your Child Has Problems at School: 6 Tips for Parents
“My Child Refuses to Do Homework” — How to Stop the Nightly Struggle Over School Work

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About

Denise Rowden is a parent of two adult children and has been a parenting coach since 2010. She has worked in Special Education, Alternative Education and adolescent group homes. She has a BS in Psychology from the University of Southern Maine and is currently working on her Life Coach certification from the International Coach Federation.

Comments (32)
  • Concerned parent with 6th grader
    My son was recently suspended for fighting a fellow student. What do I do?
    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach

      Thank you for reaching out to Empowering Parents. We are not able to answer questions regarding specific situations of suspension/expulsion because there is a lot of variability in the rules and regulations. It may be helpful to speak with a school administrator about your situation as they would be in the best position to explain what you can expect with the suspension.

      WE appreciate you being part of the Empowering Parents community. Be sure to check back and let us know how things are going. Take care.

  • Callie Comfort
    Hi, I am a student in 9th grade in Elmira New York and today I was caught stealing food. This is not my first time, but I don't know how to stop. If you have anything for me, I would love it. Thank You.
    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach
      Thank you for reaching out. I imagine this was a very stressful situation for you. I encourage you to check out the website https://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/pages/home.aspx for help with your situation.
  • Concerned Mother
    My 15 year old son has recently had two behavioral issue at his new school. They have decided for him to stay home and do virtual learning and return to regular classes next year. I work fulltime and have a 4 year old daughter as well. Its not healthy forMore him to be home alone all day everyday. Not to mention he will not do the work because their is no one there to hold him accountable. He needs more supervision and more accountability not to sit at home alone! What can i do???
    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach

      THank you for reaching out. I can understand your frustration. It's not something we're able to offer coaching or advice on, though, because it really has more to do with the school district's policies than your son's behavior. It may be helpful to speak with the student services director (or similar school personnel) about what your options are.

      We appreciate you reaching out and wish you all the best moving forward. Take care.

  • Ali
    I worry that our daughter’s boyfriend (high school junior) has been expelled from school. He has not confirmed that and I do not want to pry too hard. Our daughter has a lot of troubles of her own. Yet they do seem to love each other. They have been datingMore for three months, and he lives in another nearby town. I guess the best thing I did was invite his mom, who had him as a teenager, to come for dinner. It felt good to get to know her and his little brother. Thanks for listening. The most helpful thing I read is that even expelled kids can go on to be successful. But this all feels overwhelming to me. My husband and I spend a lot of time seeking support for our girl (we are her legal guardians). But if you have a hardworking mother who is trying to pay the bills, you may be a teen who does not have a parent with a ton of time to devote to following and guiding all of this. I hope and pray.
  • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach

    Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story. I'm so sorry your son has been suspended for his choice and I can understand your concern. It may be helpful to speak with someone familiar with the educational rules and regulations in your school district, such as an educational advocate or legal professional. If you are in the US or Canada, the 211 National Helpline may be able to give you information on these services.

    The 211 National Helpline is a referral service available 24 hours a day, nationwide. They can give you information on the types of support services available in your area such as counselors, therapists, support groups/kinship services as well as various other resources. You can reach the Helpline by calling 1-800-273-6222 or by logging onto 211.org (211.ca in Canada)

    We appreciate you being part of the Empowering Parents community. Be sure to check back and let us know how things are going. Take care.

  • Concerned Parent
    My 9th grader got suspended for 1 day and was put on school probation for the rest of the school year. He was walking in the hallway with a group of kids, they joked about pulling the fire alarm, and a girl actually went and did it. He is involvedMore by 'jokingly' telling the girl "you won't, but I dare you". He is been part of this new school for less than a month (we just moved to this state). He only knows a couple of the kids in the group, he is not familiar with the girl or the rest of the kids in the group. However, the principal blamed him for 'forcing her' and said he has an advantage (cognitive I'm assuming) because he is in 'regular' classes and the girl is in 'special' classes. No one else was called or disciplined. Was my son treated unfairly? I'm ok with 1 day of suspension so he learns it's not a joke, but I am not sure about a whole year of probation.
  • Disappointed Mother
    My 10 year old daughter with ADHD was suspended for 3 days. We just got the hearing today, and turns out she won't be back in actual school. She has never been suspended before, but she has had 4 referrals. What do I do?? I barely have time, because IMore work at home, all day, and my husband works 18 hours a day at his work office. I am disappointed in her, and thought she would be better than this. If she was at least 3 or 4 years older, she would have committed a crime! She threatened a student, and I have no idea what to do. Please, help!
  • Concerned family with 10th grader

    Hi Denise,

    Will try to be short and especific.

    My son a 10th grader just got suspended for using a vaping devise inside the school bathroom and got cut by security, the suspension by the principal is indefinitely until next week we might have a meeting with the principal next week.

    Basically bought with our debit card the device in a gas station, behind our back.

    We already removed his privileges and giving shores to do at home, please let me know how handle the academic and athletic aspect since he is on the varsity school baseballscamp team as well and a good player. How do we address the meeting with the principal at meeting?

    What to respond us or my son at meeting?

    Should we need legal representation and how to find it?

    Please email me for more advise and contact erick@sotosinteriordesign.com

    Thank you in advance 🙏

    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach

      Thank you for reaching out and sharing your story. We are not able to give specific recommendations in this situation because each school district handles these situations differently. I encourage you to speak with a legal professional regarding your situation, preferably one who specializes in school law.

      We appreciate you being part of our Empowering Parents community and wish you all the best moving forward. Take care.

  • Concerned Father

    My 6yr old daughter has been suspended from School for the second time in 2 weeks. The first time she was suspended for 2 days for hitting teachers and throwing objects at people and swearing. Today she was suspended for the second time and the School gave no timescale as to when she should return (if she should return at all) She has been on a part time timetable at School for almost 6 months now. Mother and I both attend fortnightly meetings with the School. It should be noted that my Daughter lives with her Mother and she stays with me at the weekends. The behaviour my Daughter displays at School is the same behaviour her Mother receives on a daily basis. It should also be noted that when she is with me at the weekends, this behaviour shown at School and at home is non-existent with me. I am seriously concerned and unsure what I should do in this situation because I honestly do not think Mother is addressing the problems as she should and allows our Daughter to get away with the bad behaviour. I don't feel like I personally need the support to cope with my Daughter but I am 100% sure Mother needs support as I cannot control my Daughter while she lives with her Mother. I believe it's the Mothers responsibility to address any and all situations within her own household and deal with each issue accordingly and show our Daughter that she is the adult and she is the one that is in charge therefor our Daughter should listen to her and not just me and phone me to try deal with the situation over the phone.

    What support is available to the Mother because the last thing I want to do is start custody proceedings in case this makes matters worse for our Daughter. I am at my wits end and it's started to cause serious issues between Myself and her Mother.

    Any sort of feedback would be greatly appreciated.

    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach

      Thank you for reaching out with what sounds like a frustrating situation. We hear from many parents in similar situations, so you are not alone. It's usually most productive for each parent to focus on the culture of accountability the establish in their own home, as that's where you will have the most control. We have several articles that focus on two household families you may find helpful: https://www.empoweringparents.com/article-categories/non-traditional-families/divorced-parents/.

      We appreciate you reaching out and wish you all the best moving forward. Take care.

  • ConcernedParent
    My son is 14 and in 9th grade and has ADHD, is on a mild medication. Both his father and I are home everyday for him to help with school work. Today he took "stole" milk at lunch and then lied about it. If only he would have askedMore for another milk. The school suspended him for 3 days for stealing as they have a zero tolerance policy. He does have an iep. He is consistently behind on school work or lies about (or down plays) what he has left to finish. We have worked with this school district since he was in grade school. Needless to say, homework is a daily struggle. He is very smart and normally gets 90% or better but seems to refuse to do the class work which is 30% of his grade. Any suggestions would be helpful.
    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach

      Thank you for reaching out to us for support. I can hear how frustrating and upsetting your son's behaviors are, and I want to reassure you that you are not alone. Because getting started can feel overwhelming to many parents, I often recommend making a prioritized list of all the behaviors you are dealing with, and then focusing on just 1-2 of the most disruptive behaviors at a time. This allows you to be consistent with limit setting and accountability, without becoming overwhelmed. For more helpful tools, please check out this article: How to Create a Culture of Accountability in Your Home (https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/how-to-create-a-culture-of-accountability-in-your-home/).

      We appreciate you being part of the Empowering Parents community. Be sure to check back and let us know how things are going.

  • Shocked
    My son is a 13 yr old jr high 8th grader. Start off by saying he’s never been suspended or expelled or in any type or trouble with the law or school. Quiet student at school he’s teachers were even as shocked as I am.. Unfortunately he made the biggestMore mistake that he’s now regretting, He is currently on a 10 day suspension & facing expulsion from what the principal stated. On this past Tuesday I received a call at work that my son was being transported to the hospital from school for observation along with 2 more other students due to knowingly taking edible medical gummies. One of the girls was too under the influence so they sent her to the nurse to get her side of the story & what she was under. She said she knowingly received an edible from my son, so they then pulled him from class into the nurse office & he was under the influence as well & they also found the empty medical container on him. He did say he told them that yes he did have the edibles which were found at the park and he did pass them out because he said the other students kept asking him for them & they ate them. He passed one container on the bus & one in school. The urine analysis test came that nothing but thc was in the gummies (thank god) cause it could’ve been much worser. The police came to the house to speak with him to get his side of the story which as I stated above is what he said again to them too. The police said they would make the report & send it to juvenile. My concerns are everywhere being that this is the 1st time I ever been through anything like this not only me also my son. I don’t do no types of drugs don’t have a background or nothing. My son didn’t have a background or never been in trouble with the school up until this incident at hand. I’m hurt upset confused everything. My question is what is to come behind this?. How do I try to stop him from getting expelled?. Please help me understand or who to speak with or what to do!…I’m lost…Thank you!..
    • Denise Rowden, Parent CoachEP Coach
      Thank you for reaching out. I can only imagine how stressful this must be for you and your family. We have several articles that offer helpful tips for dealing with risky behavior you may find helpful: https://www.empoweringparents.com/article-categories/child-behavior-problems/substance-abuse-risky-behavior/. We appreciate you being part of our Empowering Parents community. Be sure toMore check back and let us know how things are going.
  • Constance
    My son is a senior in high school and was expelled today for a post you put on line those deemed unacceptable the hearing was absolutely brutal and you would think this board of directors had never seen the internet before and made my child out to be a monster.More I'm sad am angry and I feel pretty alone. My son is okay though and we're going to get through this. Social media is one of the worst things ever created. Kids need to know no matter what they post online they better be prepared for the school district to go through their page and call them out on anything that they might feel is threatening or violent even though the intention wasn't meant that way just sharing a post without making comment can change your whole child's future.
  • LeQuita
    My 13 yr old son took a unloaded gun to school, he has been exspelled for a calendar yr and from any county schools, I'm looking to see wat can o do about the rest of the year for school so that he may past on to the next grade
    • Yen
      Im sorry to hear that. My 13 yr old took a 2 1/2 inches pocket knife to school and he was taken to Juvie. He got a 10 day suspension and the court will decide if he can stay in thay school or not. The principal said 90% of theMore cases go to an "alternative" school without transportation and 20 minute away from my home. IDK what to do
  • ErinLariviere
    My son is 11. He has had many problems his entire school experience. Yesterday was the last straw. He ran away from teachers and was cursing at them. Acting uncontrollable. He came home and acted like it was no big deal. He has an IEP. However I am not sureMore if school is the right place for him. I will be seeking medical hep for him but I'm not sure what to do with the schooling aspect. I can't hold a job doing this every school year. Any advice? please.
    • DeniseR_ParentalSupport

      ErinLariviere

      I can hear how much you want to help your son by finding the

      right educational placement for him. I would first start with having a meeting

      with his teacher and other school personnel to find out what options may be

      available. Checking in with his doctor or primary care provider is a great idea

      as well. There are a couple resources that may be able to also give you

      information on programs and other services. The 211 Helpline is a nationwide

      referral service that can give you information on alternative educational

      placements, educational advocates, and other community supports. You can reach

      the Helpline 24 hours a day by calling 1-800-273-6222 or by going to http://www.211.org/. If you are considering a therapeutic

      educational placement, the National Association of Therapeutic Schools and

      Programs (http://www.natsap.org/ ) can

      give you information on therapeutic programs in your area and nationwide. You

      can call them at 928-443-9505. I hope this information is useful. Be sure to

      check back if you have any further questions. Take care.

  • Carika
    My son (15) got into trouble at school and have a diciplinary hearing on Thursday. He took a drink from a friend that contain some synthetical drug. He said that he did nit know what it was and was told that it was cold drink. He got very sickMore after this and I received a call to collect him from school. He is not a problem child and did not get into any trouble before this. How do I handle this at his hearing? I seriously need help. Dont know what to do. Please help.
    • DeniseR_ParentalSupport

      @Carika

      I am so sorry to hear your son has to have a disciplinary

      hearing at school. Many parents have a lot of worry and concern regarding these

      meetings, so, you’re not alone. You may find it helpful to touch base with an

      educational advocate or legal counsel who is familiar with the specific 

      procedures and laws in your area. You local educational district would be able

      to give you information on these services. Good luck to you and your son moving

      forward. Take care.

  • lanette walton
    My two daughters were in a serious school fight were 5 students were involved. I had repeatedly went to the school about my younger daughter being bullied until finally this fight occurred where both were involved. I went to the tribunal hearing and they expelled my ninth grader andMore sent my 11 grader to alternative school , who has never been in trouble for anything. I feel that was very happy unfair. What steps can I take to get them back into another school. Keep inMind they go to school in SC where there is a zero tolerance for fighting no matter if it is the other students fault.
    • DeniseR_ParentalSupport

      lanette walton

      What a tough situation. I am sorry to hear you and your

      daughters are facing these issues. It may be beneficial to speak with legal

      counsel about your situation, specifically someone who specializes in school

      law. The 211 Helpline would be able to give you information on legal services

      in your area. You can reach the Helpline 24 hours a day by calling

      1-800-273-6222 or by visiting them online at http://www.211.org/.

      Good luck to you and your daughters moving forward. Be sure to check in and let

      us know how things are going. Take care.

  • Purplepanda2
    My son has been suspended for 6 days. For an accidently bumping into a girl. I got no call. My son brought home the paper after school today. He has iep. He is on probation for other things. Never has he touch or hit a girl on purpose. What canMore i do?
    • DeniseR_ParentalSupport

      @Purplepanda2

      What a tough situation. Many parents are unsure of how to

      respond when their child is suspended from school. It may be helpful to talk

      with the school principal about the situation to see if you can find out

      anymore information. Your son’s Special Education teacher or case manager may

      also be able to shed some light on what happened and what the next steps will

      be. I appreciate you writing in and wish you and your son the best of luck

      moving forward. Take care.

  • DeniseR_ParentalSupport

    AmberNocilla

    I am so sorry to hear you are facing these

    challenges at school. I’m sure not knowing what might happen now that you’ve

    been expelled must be pretty scary. Since we are a website aimed at helping

    parents develop more effective ways of parenting their children, we are very

    limited in the help we are able to offer you. There is a website available for

    teens and young adults, http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/

    that offers many different ways of getting support for problems you may be

    having. You can talk to their specially trained staff by text or e-mail, online

    chat, or ask questions through their online forum. They also have some tips

    that offer advice, like this one: http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/Pages/tip-life-out-of-control.aspx. I hope you will reach out to them for help

    and support with this distressing situation. We appreciate you reaching out to

    Empowering Parents. Take care and good luck.

  • disgruntled parent
    My child was suspended for 8 days.  On the 7th day I got a call saying there would be a expulsion hearing the next day (TODAY).  I have no previous knowledge about expulsions and I didn't attend the meeting today.  I also couldn't reach anyone by phone today.  I wasMore so blindsided by this.  I just need advice on what to do.
    • DeniseR_ParentalSupport

      disgruntled parent

      I am so sorry to hear about your son and the trouble he is

      having at school. You don’t mention in your comment whether your son currently

      has an IEP. If he does, it would be beneficial to touch base with his Special

      Education teacher or case manager about this issue. It may be advantageous as

      well to talk with the director of Special Education for your district. Your

      state department of education may also be able to offer you some guidance

      around this issue, even if your son isn’t receiving Special Services at this

      time. The rules and regulations around suspension and expulsion can vary

      greatly from one school district to another. Speaking with someone who is

      familiar with the specific protocols for your school district would be most

      useful as they would be able to give you advice for your particular situation.

      We wish you and your son the best of luck moving forward. Take care.

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