If your child is suspended from school, don't panic. Your child will need you to be an effective advocate for her/him. Talk to your child calmly, listen carefully, and get all the facts.

Suspension from school is to be used as a last resort after other resources and techniques have been tried, or if the seriousness of the incident warrants a suspension.

A principal suspension may be no longer than Five (5) school days.

• A student may not be suspended twice for the same incident.
• A student may not be suspended by a principal for more than a total of 10 days during a school year.

Before the suspension takes effect:

• Your child should be informed of the charges against her/her
• Your child should be given a chance to explain her/his side of the incident.

If your child is suspended, s/he will remain at school until either you pick up your child or the end of the school day.

The school should try and call you immediately to notify you of the suspension. You should also receive written notice within 24 hours of the suspension, as well as a letter by both certified and regular mail.

These various written notices should inform you of:

• Your child's rights
• A description of the incident
• The specific reason(s) for the suspension
• Your required presence at a suspension conference
• The date, time, and place of the suspension conference, which should be within 5 days of the date of the suspension.

Every effort should be made to schedule the conference at a mutually acceptable date and time.

If your child is suspended, s/he may not be penalized academically during the suspension.

• Your child may not be marked absent during the suspension period.
• Your child should still get continued educational programming and activities.
• Your child must be permitted to take any City-wide or State examinations administered during the suspension period.
• Your child must be allowed to take make-up school examinations which may affect her/his academic record.

The Suspension Conference

You or your child should attend the suspension conference. You will be meeting with the principal, a guidance counselor, and one or more of your child's teachers.

The conference is neither a formal hearing, nor an adversarial meeting. Instead, it is a guidance measure to maximize your child's educational development and help your child resolve the problem.

If you are uncomfortable speaking English, you may bring a translator to the conference.

The principal and the parent may each bring up to two additional persons to assist in the conference. While these persons may be attorneys or advocates, they may participate only as advisors.

You have the right to present witnesses, offer evidence, question all witnesses, and make objections. You should expect that the principal has done a complete investigation and can present the facts. If these facts differ from the facts told to you by your child, you should be asking a lot of questions.

Remember, the conference should not become confrontational. The purpose is form you and the school to work together to come up with a solution which is best for both the school and your child. If you feel the conference is moving away from this purpose, leave before if becomes too adversarial. Call Advocates for Children for assistance.

The school must prepare a written summary of the conference.

The principal should notify you in writing of his/her decision:

• If the principal determines the suspension was not justified, your child will return to school immediately and all records of the suspension will be expunged.
• If the principal determines the suspension was justified, the letter will give the reasons for this decision and make any further recommendations.

Your child may not be transferred to another school as a result of a principal suspension.

Your child must be back in school no later than the sixth day after the suspension, even if a suspension conference has not been held.

If you need more information or are unsure of what to do, please call Advocates for Children at (212) 947-9779 during our helpline hours on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. -1 p.m.