PERMANENT RULES
Date of Adoption: October 29, 1999.
Purpose: To qualify the right of students to question and confront witnesses by recognizing exceptions thereto.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 180-40-270 (2)(c), 180-40-285 (2)(c), 180-40-305 (2)(c), and 180-40-315 (2)(a)(ii).
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28A.305.160.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 99-19-003 on September 2, 1999.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 4, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0. Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
March 2, 2000
Larry Davis
Executive Director
OTS-3368.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending Order 6-77, filed 6/2/77, effective
8/1/77)
WAC 180-40-270
Long-term suspension -- Prehearing and hearing
process.
(1) If a request for a hearing is received pursuant to WAC 180-40-265 within the required three school business days, the school district shall schedule a hearing to commence within three school business days after the date upon which the request for a hearing was received.
(2) The student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall have the right to:
(a) Inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence which the school district intends to introduce at the hearing,
(b) Be represented by legal counsel,
(c) Question and confront witnesses, unless a school district witness does not appear and the nonappearance of the witness is excused by the person(s) hearing the case based upon evidence of good reason for doing so submitted by the school district. The evidence submitted by the school district must at a minimum establish either:
(i) That the district made a reasonable effort to produce the witness and is unable to do so; or,
(ii) That it is not advisable for the student to appear due to an expectation and fear on the part of the responsible district official(s) or the student of retaliation against the student if he or she appears as a witness,
(d) Present his or her explanation of the alleged misconduct, and
(e) Make such relevant showings by way of witnesses and the introduction of documentary and other physical evidence as he or she desires.
(3) The designee(s) of the school district assigned to present the district's case shall have the right to inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence which the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) intend to introduce at the hearing.
(4) The person(s) hearing the case shall not be a witness and the guilt or innocence of the student shall be determined solely on the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing.
(5) Either a tape-recorded or verbatim record of the hearing shall be made.
(6) A written decision setting forth the findings of fact, conclusions, and the nature and duration of the long-term suspension or lesser form or corrective action or punishment to be imposed, if any, shall be provided to the student's legal counsel or, if none, to the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s).
[Order 6-77, § 180-40-270, filed 6/2/77, effective 8/1/77.]
(1) If a request for a hearing is received pursuant to WAC 180-40-280 within the required three school business days, the school district shall schedule a hearing to commence within three school business days after the date upon which the request for a hearing was received.
(2) The student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall have the right to:
(a) Inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence which the school district intends to introduce at the hearing,
(b) Be represented by legal counsel,
(c) Question and confront witnesses, unless a school district witness does not appear and the nonappearance of the witness is excused by the person(s) hearing the case based upon evidence of good reason for doing so submitted by the school district. The evidence submitted by the school district must at a minimum establish either:
(i) That the district made a reasonable effort to produce the witness and is unable to do so; or,
(ii) That it is not advisable for the student to appear due to an expectation and fear on the part of the responsible district official(s) or the student of retaliation against the student if he or she appears as a witness,
(d) Present his or her explanation of the alleged misconduct, and
(e) Make such relevant showings by way of witnesses and the introduction of documentary and other physical evidence as he or she desires.
(3) The designee(s) of the school district assigned to present the district's case shall have the right to inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence which the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) intend to introduce at the hearing.
(4) The person(s) hearing the case shall not be a witness and the guilt or innocence of the student shall be determined solely on the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing.
(5) Either a tape-recorded or verbatim record of the hearing shall be made.
(6) A written decision setting forth the findings of fact, conclusions, and the expulsion or lesser form of corrective action or punishment to be imposed, if any, shall be provided to the student's legal counsel or, if none, to the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s).
[Order 6-77, § 180-40-285, filed 6/2/77, effective 8/1/77.]
(1) If a request for a hearing within the required ten school business days is received pursuant to WAC 180-40-300, the school district shall immediately schedule and give notice of a hearing to commence as soon as reasonably possible and in no case later than the third school business day after receipt of the request for hearing.
(2) The student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall have the right to:
(a) Inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence which the school district intends to introduce at the hearing,
(b) Be represented by legal counsel,
(c) Question and confront witnesses, unless a school district witness does not appear and the nonappearance of the witness is excused by the person(s) hearing the case based upon evidence of good reason for doing so submitted by the school district. The evidence submitted by the school district must at a minimum establish either:
(i) That the district made a reasonable effort to produce the witness and is unable to do so; or,
(ii) That it is not advisable for the student to appear due to an expectation and fear on the part of the responsible district official(s) or the student of retaliation against the student if he or she appears as a witness,
(d) Present his or her explanation of the alleged misconduct, and
(e) Make such relevant showings by way of witnesses and the introduction of documentary and other physical evidence as he or she desires.
(3) The designee(s) of the school district assigned to present the district's case shall have the right to inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence that the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) intend to introduce at the hearing.
(4) The person(s) hearing the case shall not be a witness and the guilt or innocence of the student shall be determined solely on the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing.
(5) Either a tape-recorded or verbatim record of the hearing shall be made.
(6) Within one school business day after the date upon which the hearing concludes, a decision as to whether or not the expulsion shall be continued shall be rendered, and the student's legal counsel or, if none, the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall be notified thereof by depositing a certified letter in the United States mail. The decision shall set forth the findings of fact, the conclusions (including a conclusion as to whether or not the emergency situation giving rise to the emergency expulsion continues), and whether or not the emergency expulsion shall be continued or a lesser form of corrective action or punishment is to be imposed.
(7) An emergency expulsion may be continued following the hearing on the basis that the emergency situation continues and/or as corrective action or punishment for the action(s) giving rise to the emergency expulsion in the first instance.
[Order 6-77, § 180-40-305, filed 6/2/77, effective 8/1/77.]
(1) If a notice of appeal to the school board of directors or school district disciplinary appeal council is received pursuant to WAC 180-40-310(2) within the required three school business days, the board or council shall schedule and hold an informal conference to review the matter within ten school business days after the date of receipt of such appeal notice. The purpose of the meeting shall be to meet and confer with the parties in order to decide upon the most appropriate means of disposing of the appeal as provided for in this section. At that time the student or the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) or legal counsel shall be given the right to be heard and shall be granted the opportunity to present such witnesses and testimony as the board or council deems reasonable. The board or council shall agree to one of the following procedures prior to adjournment or recess:
(a) Study the hearing record or other material submitted and render its decision within ten school business days after the date of the informal conference, or
(b) Schedule and hold a meeting to hear further arguments based on the record before the board or council and render its decision within fifteen school business days after the date of the informal conference, or
(c) Schedule and hold a meeting within ten school business days after the date of the informal conference for the purpose of hearing the case de novo.
(2) In the event the school board of directors or school district disciplinary appeal council elects to hear the appeal de novo, the following rights and procedures shall govern the proceedings:
(a) The student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) shall have the right to:
(i) Inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence which the school district intends to introduce at the hearing,
(ii) Question and confront witnesses, unless a school district witness does not appear and the nonappearance of the witness is excused by the person(s) hearing the case based upon evidence of good reason for doing so submitted by the school district. The evidence submitted by the school district must at a minimum establish either:
(A) That the district made a reasonable effort to produce the witness and is unable to do so; or,
(B) That it is not advisable for the student to appear due to an expectation and fear on the part of the responsible district official(s) or the student of retaliation against the student if he or she appears as a witness,
(iii) Present his or her explanation of the alleged misconduct, and
(iv) Make such relevant showings by way of witnesses and the introduction of documentary and other physical evidence as he or she desires,
(b) The designee(s) of the school district assigned to present the district's case shall have the right to inspect in advance of the hearing any documentary and other physical evidence that the student and his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) intend to introduce at the hearing, and
(c) Either a tape-recorded or verbatim record of the hearing shall be made.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.160 and 1996 c 321. 96-15-098, § 180-40-315, filed 7/22/96, effective 8/22/96. Statutory Authority: 1979 1st ex.s. c 173 and c 201. 79-11-049 (Order 14-79), § 180-40-315, filed 10/16/79; Order 6-77, § 180-40-315, filed 6/2/77, effective 8/1/77.]