AF Amistad High School Family Handbook 2017-2018 | 76 No student shall be placed on Out of School Suspension more than ten times or a total of fifty (50) days in one school year, whichever results in fewer days of exclusion, unless a hearing is first granted. Notice of the suspension shall be recorded in the student's cumulative educational record. Such notice shall be expunged from the cumulative educational if the student graduates from high school. Recommendation for Expulsion In Connecticut, an expulsion is defined as any exclusion from school privileges for more than ten days up to a calendar year. The Principal may consider recommendation of expulsion of a scholar where he/she has cause to believe the scholar has engaged in conduct on school grounds or at a school sponsored activity which endangers persons or property, is seriously disruptive of the educational process or is violative of a publicized Board policy, or conduct off school grounds which is seriously disruptive of the educational process and in violation of a publicized Board policy. An expulsion can only be ordered by the Board of Directors or a duly appointed Hearing Officer (the “Presiding Officer””), after a formal disciplinary hearing following the procedures set forth below. A scholar may appeal an expulsion decision to the Board of Directors, and thereafter to the Commissioner of Education. Formal Disciplinary Hearing Procedures Except in an emergency situation, prior to long-term discipline of a scholar, a formal disciplinary hearing shall be conducted by a “Presiding Officer” (which could be the Board of Directors or a designated Hearing Officer), and governed by the procedures outlined below. Whenever an emergency exists, the hearing provided for above shall be held as soon as possible within the time limits set forth by law. Written notice of the hearing must be given within a reasonable time prior to that hearing to the scholar, or if a minor, to his/her parent/guardian or person legally responsible for the scholar. Specifically, the school shall provide written notice to the Parent or Guardian within 48 hours of the incident of the date and time of a formal hearing, which shall occur no less than 5 days after the incident in question, but within 10 days of the incident. This timeline is subject to change in certain instances (e.g., the scholar responsible for an egregious offense is not identified until after days of investigation or the hearing would occur during school vacation), but in all instances, notice shall be provided as soon as practicable and consistent with requirements set forth by law. A parent may request to postpone the hearing beyond ten days for a reasonable period time to allow the parent and scholar to prepare their case. If the school consents, the scholar must remain out of school while awaiting the hearing; alternative instruction will be provided by the school.