School Discipline and

Students with Disabilities

​

Students with disabilities, including autism, ADHD, or learning differences, have legal protections when it comes to school discipline.

First be proactive before it becomes a problem.

• Click here to add this to the IEP to help your child avoid being suspended.

​

• Request a Functional Behavior Assessment. It

can be conducted for the following disciplinary change in placement of a student with a disability.

Suspensions are all too common locally in elementary schools especially among boys.  Schools must consider the child’s disability before giving serious punishments like suspension or expulsion.

​

When school discipline process begins with your child, it escalates very quickly. Parents, it's critical that you remain as calm as possible. Focusing on what you can do will help keep you calm.

​

If a child’s behavior is related to their disability, schools are required to:

• Hold a "Manifestation Determination" meeting (usually after 10 days of suspension)

• Review the child’s IEP or 504 Plan

• Look at whether the school provided the supports the student needs

​

What if the school schedules a Manifestation Determination Meeting and why is it important? 

These meetings are after any disciplinary actions that can result in disciplinary removal meaning a change of placement, suspension or expulsion. The IEP team must determine whether the child's action resulted from his/her disability. If it is, that child can't be expelled if the behavior stems from their disability. There is where the FBA, positive supports and SDI's need to be reviewed and updated to calm the child's behavior.

It's critical for you to prepare for this meeting. Click on the link to learn how to prepare for one. 

​​

What Parents Should Know About the State Performance Plan (SPP):

It's how Pennsylvania shows it's working to improve education for students with disabilities and following special education laws. It includes things like graduation rates, how often students with disabilities are included in regular classrooms, discipline rates, and how involved parents feel in the IEP process.

If you're thinking about switching school districts, or if you notice a lot of suspensions or feel your child isn’t being included enough, this info can help you ask the right questions and understand how well a district is supporting students with disabilities.

​

For more details about state performance, click here.