Program Summary

Purpose

California Education Code (EC) Section 48916.1(a) provides that, at the time an expulsion of a pupil is ordered, the governing board of the school district shall ensure that an educational program is provided to the pupil during the expulsion period. EC Section 48926 requires county superintendents in counties that operate community schools pursuant to Section 1980, in conjunction with district superintendents within the county, to develop a plan for providing education services, including any services that may be required pursuant to a pupil’s individualized education program or plan pursuant to Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), to all expelled pupils within that county. The plan was to be adopted by both the governing board of each school district within the county and by the county board of education, and then submitted to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1997. EC Section 48926 further requires that each county superintendent of schools, in conjunction with district superintendents in the county, submit a triennial update to that plan to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that reflects the outcome pursuant to Section 48916.1 on June 30 thereafter.

Program/Services

EC Section 48926 provides specifically that:

The plan shall enumerate existing educational alternatives for expelled pupils, identify gaps in educational services to expelled pupils, and recommended strategies for filling those service gaps. The plan shall also identify multiple educational programs, including timely readmission processes and alternative placements for pupils who are expelled and placed in district community day school programs, but who fail to meet the terms and conditions of their rehabilitation plan or who pose a danger to other district pupils, as determined by the governing board.

The State School Attendance Review Board (Board) provides statewide policy coordination to divert students with serious attendance and behavior problems from the juvenile justice system and to reduce the number of dropouts in the state public education system. The Board strongly recommends that the plans address progress being made in providing educational placement options and services to high-risk youth since the last plans were submitted, as well as looking forward.

The recommended content of the Countywide Plan must address additional, more detailed questions that were raised and supported by the Board and Student Programs and Services Steering Committee of the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association. These questions concern behavioral intervention approaches used to minimize the number of suspensions and expulsions, including a focus on how such practices may impact the disproportionate number of minority students being suspended or expelled.

The plans should address the following components:

1. The Countywide Plan must list and describe the educational alternatives currently available for expelled students. It is recommended that the plan also describe strategies for improvement during the next three years, including:
   
   
   • Any behavioral intervention practices, at the site and district levels, and options used to:
     
     
     • Minimize the number of suspensions leading to expulsions
     • Minimize the number of expulsions being ordered
     • Support students returning from expulsions
       
       
   • Specific explanation of how those practices relate to any disproportionate representation of minority students in such interventions.
     
     For assistance in this area, you may review guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Justice on the ED School Climate and Discipline Resources web page .
     
     
2. The Countywide Plan must address gaps in educational services and strategies for filling them. If a 2024 Countywide Plan identified gaps in educational services to expelled pupils, it is recommended the 2027 plan include the following information regarding the implementation of strategies outlined for filling those service gaps:
   
   
   • Were the strategies successful or not? Please explain why and how they were or were not successful.
     
     
   • Were any additional strategies implemented? If so, explain why and how they were or were not successful.
     
     
   • For strategies that were not successful, describe any additional measure(s) or approach(es) taken, and the outcome(s).
     
     
3. Identify multiple educational programs and services.
   
   
   • Assembly Bill 1230 amended EC Section 48916.1(a) to provide that, at the time an expulsion of a pupil is ordered, the governing board of the school district shall ensure that an educational program is provided to the pupil who is subject to the expulsion order for the period of the expulsion. Before an expulsion order is finalized, the governing board shall notify the pupil and the pupil’s family of the available educational options for expelled pupils as outlined in the plan pursuant to EC Section 48926. No later than three days after the expulsion, the governing board shall complete the initial referral of the pupil for enrollment in an educational program.
     
     
   • EC Section 48915.2 provides for allowable placements based on grounds for expulsion, although charters are also allowed to be placements as appropriate.
     
     
   • Programs and services include more than academic learning opportunities, such as social emotional support services. School attendance review boards.
     
     
   • EC Section 48320 also includes school attendance review boards as being responsive to behavior problems.
     
     
4. Outline a timely readmission process after the expulsion term is complete.
   
   
   • AB 1230 amended EC Section 48916 to provide that the governing board shall recommend a plan of rehabilitation for the pupil at the time of the expulsion order, which shall include, but not be limited to, periodic review and a preliminary assessment for readmission at least 45 days before the end of the expulsion term. The plan shall be tailored to the individual pupil’s needs and address the pupil’s behavior that led to the expulsion. The plan may be developed in consultation with school personnel who have knowledge or special expertise regarding the pupil and include recommendations for improved academic performance, tutoring, special education assessments, job training, counseling, employment, community service, or other rehabilitative programs.
     
     
   • EC Section 48916 now also provides that the governing board of each school district shall adopt rules and regulations establishing a procedure for the filing and processing of requests for readmission, a process for the required review of all expelled pupils for readmission, and a procedure for the transition process for readmitted pupils. As part of the process for a required review, the governing board shall indicate whether or not the pupil had access to the necessary resources to complete their rehabilitation plan. A rehabilitation plan that is not completed due to financial or transportation barriers or a lack of viable opportunities to complete a term of the rehabilitation plan shall not be a basis to deny the readmission of a pupil. A description of the readmission procedure shall be made available to the pupil and the pupil’s parent or guardian at the same time the pupil and the pupil’s parent or guardian are notified of the expulsion order.
     
     
5. Describe the steps to be taken by the school district, in collaboration with the county office of education, to support the successful transition of a pupil upon readmission.
   
   
6. Identify alternative placements for pupils who are expelled and placed in district community day school programs but who fail to meet the terms and conditions of their rehabilitation plan or pose a danger to other district pupils, as determined by the governing board.

Outcomes

The desired outcome is to ensure that appropriate educational placement options are available for students who have been expelled and as well as other at-risk/at-promise students. This will also result in:

• Closing the achievement gap
• Decreasing the dropout rate
• Increasing the graduation rate

Students Served

Students enrolled in kindergarten through twelfth grade who have been expelled pursuant to EC sections 48900 et seq and 48915 et seq.

Results

The countywide plans that have been submitted to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction are available at Countywide Plans (Updated 10-Jun-2026).