S648 - School Discipline Law Summary

• Repeals existing school discipline statutes and creates comprehensive new discipline framework with clear definitions of suspensions, expulsions, corporal punishment, and related terms for North Carolina schools.

• Restricts long-term suspensions and expulsions to serious violations threatening student/staff safety or substantially disrupting education; prohibits mandatory suspensions for truancy or tardiness and limits such absences to maximum 2-day short-term suspensions.

• Requires alternative education services be offered to long-term suspended or 365-day suspended students unless superintendent provides significant reason (violent behavior, safety threats, lack of resources, or serious misconduct).

• Establishes due process procedures for long-term suspensions and expulsions including written notice, formal hearings with evidence review rights, representation by counsel or advocates, and appeal rights to local board and judicial review for upheld suspensions.

• Mandates 365-day suspension for firearm or destructive device possession on school property per federal Gun Free Schools Act, with superintendent discretion to modify case-by-case; allows readmission petitions after 180 days if student no longer poses safety threat.