Outline of the state of Ohio
State
Ohio
Encouraged

Category
Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline

Category
Alternatives to Exclusionary Discipline

State law encourages districts to use alternatives to out-of-school suspension or expulsion, such as in-school suspension, behavioral interventions, or restorative practices.

Ohio Revised Code 3313.534 Policy of zero tolerance for violent, disruptive or inappropriate behavior.

(A) The board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall adopt a policy of zero tolerance for violent, disruptive, or inappropriate behavior and establish strategies to address such behavior that range from prevention to intervention. A policy adopted pursuant to this section shall comply with the requirements of sections 3313.668 and 3319.46 of the Revised Code. (B) Each of the big eight school districts, as defined in section 3314.02 of the Revised Code, shall establish under section 3313.533 of the Revised Code at least one alternative school to meet the educational needs of students with severe discipline problems, including, but not limited to, excessive disruption in the classroom and multiple suspensions or expulsions. Any other school district that attains after that date a significantly substandard graduation rate, as defined by the department of education, shall also establish such an alternative school under that section.

Policy Type
Statute

Ohio Revised Code 3313.66 Suspension expulsion or permanent exclusion - removal from curricular or extracurricular activities.

(6) No pupil shall be expelled under division (B)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section unless, prior to the pupil's expulsion, the superintendent does both of the following:

  • (a) Gives the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, or custodian written notice of the intention to expel the pupil;
  • (b) Provides the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative an opportunity to appear in person before the superintendent or the superintendent's designee to challenge the reasons for the intended expulsion or otherwise to explain the pupil's actions.

The notice required in this division shall include the reasons for the intended expulsion, notification of the opportunity of the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative to appear before the superintendent or the superintendent's designee to challenge the reasons for the intended expulsion or otherwise to explain the pupil's action, and notification of the time and place to appear. The time to appear shall not be earlier than three nor later than five school days after the notice is given, unless the superintendent grants an extension of time at the request of the pupil or the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative. If an extension is granted after giving the original notice, the superintendent shall notify the pupil and the pupil's parent, guardian, custodian, or representative of the new time and place to appear. If the proposed expulsion is based on a violation listed in division (A) of section 3313.662 of the Revised Code and if the pupil is sixteen years of age or older, the notice shall include a statement that the superintendent may seek to permanently exclude the pupil if the pupil is convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for that violation.

(7) A superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district shall initiate expulsion proceedings pursuant to this section with respect to any pupil who has committed an act warranting expulsion under the district's policy regarding expulsion even if the pupil has withdrawn from school for any reason after the incident that gives rise to the hearing but prior to the hearing or decision to impose the expulsion. If, following the hearing, the pupil would have been expelled for a period of time had the pupil still been enrolled in the school, the expulsion shall be imposed for the same length of time as on a pupil who has not withdrawn from the school.

Policy Type
Statute

Ohio Revised Code 3313.661 Policy regarding suspension, expulsion, removal and permanent exclusion; community service.

(A) Subject to the limitations set forth in section 3313.668 of the Revised Code, the board of education of each city, exempted village, and local school district shall adopt a policy regarding suspension, expulsion, removal, and permanent exclusion that specifies the types of misconduct for which a pupil may be suspended, expelled, or removed. The types of misconduct may include misconduct by a pupil that occurs off of property owned or controlled by the district but that is connected to activities or incidents that have occurred on property owned or controlled by that district and misconduct by a pupil that, regardless of where it occurs, is directed at a district official or employee, or the property of such official or employee. The policy shall specify the reasons for which the superintendent of the district may reduce the expulsion requirement in division (B)(2) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code. If a board of education adopts a resolution pursuant to division (B)(3) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code, the policy shall define the term “knife capable of causing serious bodily injury” or “firearm,” as applicable, for purposes of expulsion under that resolution and shall specify any reasons for which the superintendent of the district may reduce any required expulsion period on a case-by-case basis. If a board of education adopts a resolution pursuant to division (B)(4) or (5) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code, the policy shall specify any reasons for which the superintendent of the district may reduce any required expulsion period on a case-by-case basis. The policy also shall set forth the acts listed in section 3313.662 of the Revised Code for which a pupil may be permanently excluded. ... (B) A board of education may establish a program and adopt guidelines under which a superintendent may require a pupil to perform community service in conjunction with a suspension or expulsion imposed under section 3313.66 of the Revised Code or in place of a suspension or expulsion imposed under section 3313.66 of the Revised Code except for an expulsion imposed pursuant to division (B)(2) of that section. If a board adopts guidelines under this division, they shall permit, except with regard to an expulsion pursuant to division (B)(2) of section 3313.66 of the Revised Code, a superintendent to impose a community service requirement beyond the end of the school year in lieu of applying an expulsion into the following school year. Any guidelines adopted shall be included in the policy adopted under this section.

Policy Type
Statute

Ohio Revised Code 3313.668 Removal from school based on absences; removal of students in grades pre-k through three.

(A) (1) Except as provided under division (B)(2) of this section, and subject to section 3313.668 of the Revised Code, the superintendent of schools of a city, exempted village, or local school district, or the principal of a public school may suspend a pupil from school for not more than ten school days. The board of education of a city, exempted village, or local school district may adopt a policy granting assistant principals and other administrators the authority to suspend a pupil from school for a period of time as specified in the policy of the board of education, not to exceed ten school days. If at the time an out-of-school suspension is imposed there are fewer than ten school days remaining in the school year in which the incident that gives rise to the suspension takes place, the superintendent shall not apply any remaining part of the period of the suspension to the following school year. The superintendent may instead require the pupil to participate in a community service program or another alternative consequence for a number of hours equal to the remaining part of the period of the suspension. The pupil shall be required to begin the pupil’s community service or alternative consequence during the first full week day of summer break. Each school district, in its discretion, may develop an appropriate list of alternative consequences. In the event that a pupil fails to complete community service or the assigned alternative consequence, the school district may determine the next course of action, which shall not include requiring the pupil to serve the remaining time of the out-of-school suspension at the beginning of the following school year.

Policy Type
Statute