SB 1445: Governing boards: pupil members: expulsion hearing recommendations.

Existing law requires school district governing boards, charter school governing bodies, and the governing bodies of entities managing multiple charter schools to appoint at least one high school pupil as a pupil member of the board or body, as applicable, in response to a petition from high school pupils requesting the appointment of one or more pupil members, as provided. Existing law gives each pupil member the right to attend every meeting of the governing board or body, except closed sessions, and to receive all materials received by regular members, except for materials that pertain to closed session items, as provided.

Existing law requires the governing boards of school districts to establish rules and regulations governing procedures for the expulsion of pupils, and requires a petition to establish a charter school to include, among other things, a reasonably comprehensive description of the procedures by which pupils can be suspended or expelled from the charter school for disciplinary reasons or otherwise involuntarily removed from the charter school for any reason, as specified. Existing law requires school district pupils to be entitled to a hearing to determine whether the pupil should be expelled, conducted in a session closed to the public, except as provided.

This bill would authorize school district governing boards, charter school governing bodies, and the governing bodies of entities managing multiple charter schools to allow each of their respective pupil members to make restorative justice recommendations that would be considered in closed session expulsion hearings. The bill would require, if the school district governing board, charter school governing body, or governing body of an entity managing multiple charter schools authorizes those pupil member recommendations, limited case information that pertains to those closed session items to be disclosed to each pupil member, subject to pupil and parental consent, as specified.