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School Expulsion Hearings

Orange County School Expulsion Hearings

According to the California Education Code or individual school regulations, your student may be subject to expulsion for making a costly adolescent decision like using or possessing drugs, selling drugs, owning a weapon or committing an act of violence. In some cases, the school board has the power to stop an expulsion by suspending it. This process may keep your son or daughter in the district, but they will most likely not attend the same school.

Don’t let a minor infraction leave a lasting mark on your child’s future. At the Law Offices of Katie Walsh, we advocate for your family, safeguard your child’s rights, and help you navigate the school discipline process. In some cases, we can also negotiate alternatives to expulsion.

The Expulsion Process for a Juvenile Offense

  • Your student will attend a hearing in front of three teachers selected from the district. While it is similar to a trial, the hearing is conducted without rules of evidence. The panel will consider most information, including letters and written statements. Your child can choose to fight the offense and require the panel to make a finding, or admit fault and offer information during mitigation (letters of recommendation, statements from parents, etc.). The juvenile attorney can also question district officials (usually the student’s vice principal) about the case.
  • After hearing evidence from the district, student and family, the panel will make a recommendation to the school board for or against expulsion. If the panel determines that the student committed the offense, they are required to expel the student. The school board, however, is not similarly bound.
  • Next, the student must appear in front of the school board. The board permits limited testimony and relies on the panel hearing testimony to aid them in making a decision. To improve the outcome of your child’s expulsion hearing, attorney Katie Walsh will provide as much testimony as possible (including the student and his or her parents expressing remorse, if that is appropriate). Ms. Walsh will then make a closing argument, and the board will deliberate and render a decision within a day or so. If the adolescent’s family is unhappy with the school district’s decision, they may choose to have our Orange County legal experts appeal a child’s expulsion case to the county school board.

Hire the Law Offices of Katie Walsh for Your Child

If your child or loved one needs the help of an Orange County school expulsion lawyer, schedule a free consultation with juvenile defender Katie Walsh and her team. As a former prosecutor, Ms. Walsh is familiar with the juvenile court system and has handled thousands of juvenile cases. She and her team will answer your school expulsion questions—and can also assist with sealing a juvenile record or helping your son or daughter avoid jail. Call (714) 351-0178 or submit a confidential inquiry now.

CA Education Code 48900

(a)(1) Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

(2) Willfully used forced or violence upon another, except in self-defense

(b) Possessed, sold or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive or dangerous object unless the student had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certified school employee, and concurred by the principal or designee of the principal.

(c) Unlawfully possessed, used, sold or otherwise furnished or been under the influence of any controlled substance, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.

(d) Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, and then either sold, delivered, or otherwise furnished the controlled substance to another person.

(e) Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

(f)Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

(g) Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.

(h) Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine. This section does not prohibit use or possession by student of his or her prescription products.

(i) Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

(j) Unlawfully possessed or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia.

(k) Disrupted school activities, or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or any school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.

(l) Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

(m) Possessed an imitation firearm.

(n) Committed or attempted to commit sexual assault or sexual battery.

(o) Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a student who is a complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding for the purpose of either preventing that pupil from being a witness or retaliating against that pupil for being a witness, or both.

(p) Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.

(q) Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing as defined in section 32050. Hazing includes any method of initiation or pre-initiation into a student organization or student body or any past time or amusement engaged in with respect to these organizations which causes, or is likely to cause, bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm, to any pupil or other person attending any school.

(r) A pupil may not be suspended or expelled for any of the actions enumerated in section 48900 unless that act is related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the superintendent or principal or occurring within any other school district.

Client Reviews

I hired attorney Katie Walsh to help my son when he was found with a large amount of drugs on school campus. She got us through the Expulsion Hearing, and miraculously he can go back to school at the winter semester...

AR- parent of minor client

I hired Katie Walsh to have my felony convictions expunged. She was able to expunge my record within 6 weeks of me giving her all the information. Even though technically I had a probation violation, and therefore the...

AR, criminal client

My 16 year old son was charged with possession of Marijuana, HS 11357(b). I was very concerned about what would happen to him and how this would affect his future. I contacted Ms. Walsh and she assured me that everything...

CT, parent of juvenile client

My child was charged with Felony Penal Code 597(a)- Animal Cruelty. After hiring Katie Walsh, she got the charges reduced to a misdemeanor, counseling, and 40 hours of chores at home. We come back in 6 months and the...

DH - Parent of Juvenile client

I hired Katie Walsh to represent my son on sexual abuse allegations- P.C. 288(a) and P.C. 288(b)- they were Strike Charges. After negotiating with the D.A., she got all the strike charges dismissed, and got my son...

DR- mother of juvenile client

Katie Walsh was fantastic throughout this entire process! My 13 year old son was charged with two counts of lewd act on a minor, PC 288(a) and was in juvenile hall. After hiring Ms. Walsh, she GOT MY SON OUT OF JAIL and...

EG, parent of juvenile client

My 14 year old son was arrested at school for P.C. 311 (child pornography). My son had innocent and stupid nude pictures of himself and friends on his phone. Ms. Walsh was extremely easy to talk to, and made my son feel...

GK,TK, parents of juvenile client

Ms. Walsh was a life saver when I didn't know what was going on, or how to handle the situation. My young daughter was attacked at her middle school and was seriously injured. At a time when both the school and the...

HA, mother of 13 year old Victim Rights client

I hired Katie Walsh to seal my juvenile record of PC 288(a) (lewd act on a minor), after my request had been denied by a Judge and by the Probation Department. After speaking with Probation, the DA and the Judge at a...

JW, former juvenile client

I was charged with a Felony Conspiracy charge- PC 182. After hiring Ms. Walsh she got my charged reduced to a misdemeanor right away, and now I just have to do community service and in 6 months my entire case will be...

KP, juvenile client

Ms. Walsh was like a breath of fresh air throughout this entire process. I was uncertain about the outcome, but she told me everything would be ok- and it was. She had my juvenile record sealed within 3 months of...

LR, former juvenile client

Ms. Walsh got the judge to terminate my son's probation and seal his 2 juvenile cases (Penal Code 288(a) and Penal Code 242) even though he had violated my probation by picking up a new case. By getting his record sealed...

MB- mother of juvenile client

At a very difficult time in my life I contacted attorney Katie Walsh. I am a teacher and was being harassed/stalked by a parent at my school. I wanted a Restraining Order against this person. Ms. Walsh listened to me...

MB, restraining order client

My son was charged with Lewd Conduct, P.C. 647 out of Downey, CA. After hiring Ms. Walsh, she spoke with the District Attorney, Probation, and the Judge. Even though the judge was not pleased with the offer, she was able...

MG, parent of minor

It is with sincere gratitude that I send this recommendation As a parent of a child that was arrested on a Felony Domestic Abuse charge and over 2000 miles away I had to rely on friend of a friends word that you would...

MPF, mother of criminal client

I really liked having Ms. Walsh as my attorney. She visited me in Juvenile Hall. I was charged with four counts of Robbery (Penal Code 211). This was my 8th juvenile petition. Ms. Walsh got 2 of the robbery charges...

MU, juvenile client

I was arrested for a felony Domestic charge, PC 273.5(a). After I hired Katie Walsh, my entire case was dismissed. I never had to appear in court. I felt very comfortable with Ms. Walsh- she was easy to speak with...

NF, criminal client

Katie was instrumental in helping me with a criminal matter as an advocate for me and my children when I was a named victim in a DV case. She patiently and expediently addressed all of my questions and was an invaluable...

RG

My daughter was pulled over arrested for having a Fake ID. After hiring Ms. Walsh my daughter did not have to plead guilty- which would have affected her license status. She did community service, completed a legal...

RS

My 14 year old daughter was involved in an assault and battery- PC 240/242, in Irvine. After hiring Katie Walsh the case was not referred to Court. My daughter was able to complete a class and the case will be dismissed...

SG, mother a juvenile client

My son was charged with possession of Child Pornography P.C. 311.11(a) - a charge I did not realize a child could be guilty of! As parents were beside ourselves when we found this out, and contacted Katie Walsh. She...

SH- mother of juvenile client

From San Diego I contacted Ms. Walsh about sealing my juvenile record in Orange County regarding a Petty Theft charge. She was always very responsive to any of my questions, and consistently kept me updated. Even though...

XL, juvenile client

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