This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Student Discipline issues in Pennsylvania.
Student Rights: Suspension & Expulsion
EDUCATION IS a very important right for every child. Every child between birth and age 21 has the right to a free and appropriate public education. To exclude a child from school is a serious loss for the child, the family, and society. Because education is so important, schools must follow certain procedures before a child is excluded. Longer exclusions from school require more detailed and complex procedures.
A suspension is an exclusion from school for one to 10 consecutive school days. To suspend a student for up to three days, the school must tell the student the reasons for the suspension and give the student a chance to tell his or her side of the story. To suspend a student for more than three days, the school must provide the student an informal hearing.
An expulsion is an exclusion from school for more than 10 days. To expel a child from school, the school district must provide the student a formal hearing.
Continue Reading Full Resource. . .
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth
This fact sheet addresses your child’s rights if a school wants to move your child to a different education program because of discipline; your child currently attends an alternative school or program for disciplinary reasons; or you are seeking to have your child return to a regular classroom from an alternative program.
Alternative Education for Multilingual Learners
This fact sheet describes the process for determining if your child, as a multilingual learner, is appropriately and legally placed in an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) program and, if not, how to return your child to an appropriate placement in your local school district. The fact sheet outlines special rights applicable to your child as a multilingual learner ̶ referenced in law as an “English learner” (EL)1 ̶ which are in addition to general rights applicable to all students
Alternative Education for Students with Disabilities
This fact sheet describes the process for determining if your child with disabilities is appropriately and legally placed in an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) program and, if not, how to return your child to an appropriate placement in your local school district in the least restrictive environment. The fact sheet outlines special rights applicable to your child as a child with a disability ― that is, a child who has or is eligible for an IEP or Section 504 Plan. (August 2023)
2025-26 Back to School Guide for Pennsylvania Public School Students, Families, and Advocates
The Education Law Center-PA (ELC-PA) has updated its annual “Back to School Guide” with new publications and updated information on multiple education topics to help students, families, and child-serving professionals.
Bullying or Harassment Complaint Form Checklist
Learn about student’s rights to be free from bullying and harassment and what you can do as a parent or caregiver. This checklist can be used to guide you as you fill out a Bullying/Harassment Complaint. If your child’s school uses a certain form, use that form. If not, you can use this sample form.
Expulsions in Pennsylvania: Information for Parents and Guardians
The Education Law Center-Pennsylvania provides information on what you should know if a School District or charter school wants to expel your child. A school can expel a student for a violation of a school rule only if the school has officially adopted the rule, distributed the rule in writing, and the rule states that its violation can lead to an expulsion. [PDF] (August 2024)
Preventing Suspension and Expulsion in Preschool Settings
This fact sheet addresses the rights of young children facing exclusion in preschool settings in Pennsylvania, including child care and day care centers, Early Intervention, Head Start, private academic schools, and school district prekindergarten, among others. If one of these school settings seeks to exclude your child, here are some things you should know about your rights. (August 2025)
Rights in Suspension and Expulsion
Information on school suspensions and expulsions from the Erie County Bar Association. Under the current state of law, students who attend private schools have very little opportunity to contest their suspensions or expulsions. This page deals with the legal rights of students who attend public schools. In public schools, the school directors are obligated to define and publish the types of conduct that would lead to exclusion from school. An exclusion from school may take the form of either suspension or expulsion. (February 2019)
School Attendance and Truancy
Information on compulsory school attendance from the Erie County Bar Association. Pennsylvania requires every child of mandatory school age to attend school. Mandatory school age begins when the child's parents or guardians choose to have the child begin school, which cannot be later than eight (8) years old until the age of seventeen (17) years old. It does not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited senior high school. (August 2018)
Student Rights: Suspension & Expulsion
Information from Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. on student rights in suspension and expulsion proceedings.
Suspensions in PA
This fact sheet applies to all public schools, including charter schools, in Pennsylvania. If a school district or charter school seeks to suspend your child, There are important things you should know. A suspension is an exclusion from school for one to 10 school days in a row. Even a suspension for part of a day constitutes one day of suspension. A suspension may be imposed by a principal or other person in charge of a school. (August 2024)
Weapons at School: Students’ Rights & Disciplinary Consequences (Act 26) [PDF]
Under Act 26 (24 P.S. § 13–1317.2), a student who brings a weapon to school can face severe punishment. A student with a weapon at school, at a school event, or traveling to or from school can be expelled for one year or more, with certain exceptions. The student does not have to use the weapon. It is enough to carry the weapon, keep it in a locker or book bag, or hold it for a friend. Learn more in this Fact Sheet from the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania on expulsions under PA Act 26 based on possession of a weapon at school. (August 2022)
Mediation (Special Education)
Even when parents and school officials try their best to reach agreement on a student’s special education program, disagreements can occur. If this happens, mediation, which is a free, voluntary, and confidential alternative to a formal due process hearing, is an option. Mediation can take place at any time before or during the due process cycle. Mediation is not a required process and may not delay or deny a parent the right to a due process hearing. Information on the Mediation process from the Office of Dispute Resolution (Special Education).
Request for Translation and Interpretation Services
Federal civil rights laws require schools to provide free language services for multilingual parents or caregivers whose first language is not English. This form and checklist includes questions the parent or caregiver can ask about the types of language services available and when the school can provide language services. By asking these questions, the parent or caregiver will learn about the process to request language services and the point of contact at the school responsible for providing interpretation and/or translation. This self-advocacy tool is available for general education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali. This self-advocacy tool is available for special education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali.
Student Rights: Suspension & Expulsion
Information from Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. on student rights in suspension and expulsion proceedings.
Rights in Suspension and Expulsion
Information on school suspensions and expulsions from the Erie County Bar Association. Under the current state of law, students who attend private schools have very little opportunity to contest their suspensions or expulsions. This page deals with the legal rights of students who attend public schools. In public schools, the school directors are obligated to define and publish the types of conduct that would lead to exclusion from school. An exclusion from school may take the form of either suspension or expulsion. (February 2019)
School Attendance and Truancy
Information on compulsory school attendance from the Erie County Bar Association. Pennsylvania requires every child of mandatory school age to attend school. Mandatory school age begins when the child's parents or guardians choose to have the child begin school, which cannot be later than eight (8) years old until the age of seventeen (17) years old. It does not include any child who holds a certificate of graduation from a regularly accredited senior high school. (August 2018)
Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth
This fact sheet addresses your child’s rights if a school wants to move your child to a different education program because of discipline; your child currently attends an alternative school or program for disciplinary reasons; or you are seeking to have your child return to a regular classroom from an alternative program.
Alternative Education for Multilingual Learners
This fact sheet describes the process for determining if your child, as a multilingual learner, is appropriately and legally placed in an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) program and, if not, how to return your child to an appropriate placement in your local school district. The fact sheet outlines special rights applicable to your child as a multilingual learner ̶ referenced in law as an “English learner” (EL)1 ̶ which are in addition to general rights applicable to all students
Alternative Education for Students with Disabilities
This fact sheet describes the process for determining if your child with disabilities is appropriately and legally placed in an Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth (AEDY) program and, if not, how to return your child to an appropriate placement in your local school district in the least restrictive environment. The fact sheet outlines special rights applicable to your child as a child with a disability ― that is, a child who has or is eligible for an IEP or Section 504 Plan. (August 2023)
2025-26 Back to School Guide for Pennsylvania Public School Students, Families, and Advocates
The Education Law Center-PA (ELC-PA) has updated its annual “Back to School Guide” with new publications and updated information on multiple education topics to help students, families, and child-serving professionals.
Bullying or Harassment Complaint Form Checklist
Learn about student’s rights to be free from bullying and harassment and what you can do as a parent or caregiver. This checklist can be used to guide you as you fill out a Bullying/Harassment Complaint. If your child’s school uses a certain form, use that form. If not, you can use this sample form.
Education Law Center
The Education Law Center is a non-profit legal advocacy and educational organization, dedicated to ensuring that all of Pennsylvania's children have access to a quality public education.
Expulsions in Pennsylvania: Information for Parents and Guardians
The Education Law Center-Pennsylvania provides information on what you should know if a School District or charter school wants to expel your child. A school can expel a student for a violation of a school rule only if the school has officially adopted the rule, distributed the rule in writing, and the rule states that its violation can lead to an expulsion. [PDF] (August 2024)
Preventing Suspension and Expulsion in Preschool Settings
This fact sheet addresses the rights of young children facing exclusion in preschool settings in Pennsylvania, including child care and day care centers, Early Intervention, Head Start, private academic schools, and school district prekindergarten, among others. If one of these school settings seeks to exclude your child, here are some things you should know about your rights. (August 2025)
Request for Translation and Interpretation Services
Federal civil rights laws require schools to provide free language services for multilingual parents or caregivers whose first language is not English. This form and checklist includes questions the parent or caregiver can ask about the types of language services available and when the school can provide language services. By asking these questions, the parent or caregiver will learn about the process to request language services and the point of contact at the school responsible for providing interpretation and/or translation. This self-advocacy tool is available for general education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali. This self-advocacy tool is available for special education in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Nepali.
Suspensions in PA
This fact sheet applies to all public schools, including charter schools, in Pennsylvania. If a school district or charter school seeks to suspend your child, There are important things you should know. A suspension is an exclusion from school for one to 10 school days in a row. Even a suspension for part of a day constitutes one day of suspension. A suspension may be imposed by a principal or other person in charge of a school. (August 2024)
The Right to Special Education In Pennsylvania: A Guide for Parents and Advocates [PDF]
Children with disabilities can do great things in school and in life when they get the right supports and services. This Guide is meant to help you – the parent – learn how the system designed to educate children with disabilities (called special education) works in Pennsylvania and how you can make it work for your child. This Guide describes the legal rules for special education and early intervention programs in Pennsylvania for children from ages three until the student’s 22nd birthday. The rules discussed in this Guide apply to children who attend public schools in Pennsylvania, including charter schools. (2021)
Weapons at School: Students’ Rights & Disciplinary Consequences (Act 26) [PDF]
Under Act 26 (24 P.S. § 13–1317.2), a student who brings a weapon to school can face severe punishment. A student with a weapon at school, at a school event, or traveling to or from school can be expelled for one year or more, with certain exceptions. The student does not have to use the weapon. It is enough to carry the weapon, keep it in a locker or book bag, or hold it for a friend. Learn more in this Fact Sheet from the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania on expulsions under PA Act 26 based on possession of a weapon at school. (August 2022)
Mediation (Special Education)
Even when parents and school officials try their best to reach agreement on a student’s special education program, disagreements can occur. If this happens, mediation, which is a free, voluntary, and confidential alternative to a formal due process hearing, is an option. Mediation can take place at any time before or during the due process cycle. Mediation is not a required process and may not delay or deny a parent the right to a due process hearing. Information on the Mediation process from the Office of Dispute Resolution (Special Education).