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Discipline and School Removals

The reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which was signed into law on December 3, 2004, contains several changes affecting the discipline of students with disabilities. The IDEA 2004 final regulations, published August 14, 2006, reflect discipline-related changes involving:

  • the consideration of "unique circumstances" in disciplinary actions;  
  • disciplinary removal due to "serious bodily injury:"  
  • provision of services during periods of disciplinary removal;  
  • notification regarding a discipline-related change of placement; "manifestation determination;" and  
  • discipline-related "basis of knowledge" for children not determined eligible for special education. 

Discipline-Related School Removals

Under IDEA, a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) must be made available to all children with disabilities aged of 3 through 21,  including children who have been suspended or expelled from school, as provided in 34 CFR §300.530(d) (See 20 USC §1412(a)(1) and 34 CFR §300.101(a)). 

Therefore, students with disabilities removed from their current placements through suspension or expulsion must continue to receive educational services to enable them to continue to participate in the general education curriculum, although in another setting, and to progress toward meeting their Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals. See 34 CFR §300.530(d).  

LEAs must report discipline data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS). State educational agencies must report discipline related data gathered from LEAs to the U.S. Department of Education (ED); subsequent findings specific to Indicator 4A and 4B in the State Performance Plan (SPP)/Annual Performance Report (APR); and significant disproportionality analysis and policies to the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). 

More information on Significant Disproportionality analysis and SPP 4A and 4B measurements is available by clicking the embedded links here.

Assessment in Disciplinary Settings 

Students who have been removed from their current placements for disciplinary reasons, such as suspension, expulsion, or assignment to an interim alternative education setting (IAES) or other setting must participate in all general state and district-wide assessments. 

IDEA and associated regulations require children with disabilities to be included in statewide assessments. Comments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 04) Section 612 (a)(16)(A) state that the requirement to participate in statewide assessments "applies to children with disabilities who have been placed in an IAES or another setting, or who are suspended." 

Students with disabilities who have been suspended or removed from their current placements to some type of alternative placement and students with disabilities assigned to Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Programs (JJAEPs) must take the state or district-wide assessment (unless the IEP provides that the student not take a district-wide assessment for reasons other than the disciplinary removal). 

Based on the IDEA 04 statute, regulations, and federal comments to the regulations, districts must have policies and procedures in place regarding participation in state and district-wide assessments of students with disabilities placed in an IAES, including suspension to a home environment and JJAEPs.  

Restraint and Time-Out  

State regulations are intended to ensure that all students are treated with dignity and respect, as well as educated in a safe environment. Behavior management techniques or discipline management practices must be implemented in such a way as to protect the health and safety of the students and others. When the use of physical restraint or time-out is necessary, the state has outlined specific requirements and procedures (see TEC 37.0021 and TAC 89.1053 for further guidance). 

Students Not Determined Eligible for Special Education 

Students not determined eligible for special education may receive protections for disciplinary purposes under IDEA when a parent has submitted in writing to school personnel their concerns regarding the child's need for special education and related services (34 CFR §300.534). A school is considered to have knowledge that a child has a disability if before the behavior that caused the disciplinary action occurred:

  • the parent of the child expressed concern in writing to supervisory or administrative personnel of the appropriate educational agency or a teacher of the child that the child is in need of special education and related services;
  • the parent of the child requested an evaluation of the child; or
  • the teacher of the child or other personnel of the LEA expressed specific concerns about a pattern of behavior demonstrated by the child directly to the director of special education of the agency or to other supervisory personnel of the agency

A school is not considered to have knowledge under IDEA if the parent has refused to allow an evaluation of the child, if the parent has refused services under IDEA to allow an evaluation of the child, or if the child has been evaluated and determined to not be a child with a disability under IDEA. 

State Resources 

The following are state resources about discipline and school removals:

  • Written Summary of Restraint Use Sample Form - Districts may use this form to inform parents about the use of restraint and to assist in the collection of restraint data to be reported through PEIMS. 
  • Texas Behavior Support Initiative (TBSI) – TBSI is designed to build capacity in Texas schools for the provision of positive behavioral support (PBS) to all students. The goal of PBS is to enhance the capacity of schools to educate all students, especially students with challenging behaviors, by adopting a sustained, positive, preventative instructional approach to school-wide discipline and behavior management.  
  • Center for Restorative Justice at the University of Texas - The Institute for Restorative Justice and Restorative Dialogue (IRJRD) seeks to build a national mindset that embraces restorative justice principles. Its mission is to advance meaningful accountability, victim healing, and community safety through the use of restorative justice solutions to repair the harm related to conflict, crime, and victimization.

National Resources

The following are national resources about discipline and school removals:

  • U.S. Department of Education Major Topic Area - Discipline has topic briefs, video clips, training materials, presentations, a dialogue guide and a questions and answers document.  
  • The mission of the Center for Effective Collaboration and Practice is to support and promote a reoriented national preparedness to foster the development and adjustment of children with or at risk of developing serious emotional disturbance.
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