1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a principal of a school shall deem a pupil enrolled in the school a habitual disciplinary problem if the school has written evidence which documents that in 1 school year:
(a) The pupil has threatened or extorted, or attempted to threaten or extort, another pupil or a teacher or other personnel employed by the school two or more times or the pupil has a record of five suspensions from the school for any reason; and
(b) The pupil has not entered into and participated in a plan of behavior pursuant to subsection 5.
2. At least one teacher of a pupil who is enrolled in elementary school and at least two teachers of a pupil who is enrolled in junior high, middle school or high school may request that the principal of the school deem a pupil a habitual disciplinary problem. Upon such a request, the principal of the school shall meet with each teacher who made the request to review the pupil’s record of discipline. If, after the review, the principal of the school determines that the provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to the pupil, a teacher who submitted a request pursuant to this subsection may appeal that determination to the board of trustees of the school district. Upon receipt of such a request, the board of trustees shall review the initial request and determination pursuant to the procedure established by the board of trustees for such matters.
3. If a pupil is suspended, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall provide written notice to the parent or legal guardian of the pupil that contains:
(a) A description of the act committed by the pupil and the date on which the act was committed;
(b) An explanation that if the pupil receives five suspensions on his or her record during the current school year and has not entered into and participated in a plan of behavior pursuant to subsection 5, the pupil will be deemed a habitual disciplinary problem;
(c) An explanation that, pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 392.466, a pupil who is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem may be:
(1) Suspended from school for a period not to exceed one school semester as determined by the seriousness of the acts which were the basis for the discipline; or
(2) Expelled from school under extraordinary circumstances as determined by the principal of the school;
(d) If the pupil has a disability and is participating in a program of special education pursuant to NRS 388.419, an explanation of the effect of subsection 10 of NRS 392.466, including, without limitation, that if it is determined in accordance with 20 U.S.C. § 1415 that the pupil’s behavior is not a manifestation of the pupil’s disability, he or she may be suspended or expelled from school in the same manner as a pupil without a disability; and
(e) A summary of the provisions of subsection 5.
4. A school shall provide the notice required by subsection 3 for each suspension on the record of a pupil during a school year. Such notice must be provided at least 7 days before the school deems the pupil a habitual disciplinary problem.
5. If a pupil is suspended, the school in which the pupil is enrolled shall develop, in consultation with the pupil and the parent or legal guardian of the pupil, a plan of behavior for the pupil. The parent or legal guardian of the pupil may choose for the pupil not to participate in the plan of behavior. If the parent or legal guardian of the pupil chooses for the pupil not to participate, the school shall inform the parent or legal guardian of the consequences of not participating in the plan of behavior. Such a plan must be designed to prevent the pupil from being deemed a habitual disciplinary problem and may include, without limitation:
(a) A plan for graduating if the pupil is deficient in credits and not likely to graduate according to schedule.
(b) Information regarding schools with a mission to serve pupils who have been:
(1) Expelled or suspended from a public school, including, without limitation, a charter school; or
(2) Deemed to be a habitual disciplinary problem pursuant to this section.
(c) A voluntary agreement by the parent or legal guardian to attend school with his or her child.
(d) A voluntary agreement by the pupil and the pupil’s parent or legal guardian to attend counseling, programs or services available in the school district or community.
(e) A voluntary agreement by the pupil and the pupil’s parent or legal guardian that the pupil will attend summer school, intersession school or school on Saturday, if any of those alternatives are offered by the school district.
6. If a pupil commits the same act for which notice was provided pursuant to subsection 3 after he or she enters into a plan of behavior pursuant to subsection 5, the pupil shall be deemed to have not successfully completed the plan of behavior and may be deemed a habitual disciplinary problem.
7. A pupil may, pursuant to the provisions of this section, enter into one plan of behavior per school year.
8. The parent or legal guardian of a pupil who has entered into a plan of behavior with a school pursuant to this section may appeal to the board of trustees of the school district a determination made by the school concerning the contents of the plan of behavior or action taken by the school pursuant to the plan of behavior. Upon receipt of such a request, the board of trustees of the school district shall review the determination in accordance with the procedure established by the board of trustees for such matters.
(Added to NRS by 1997, 2489; A 1999, 2110; 2015, 424, 2034; 2019, 3573)