§ 115C-390.12.  Request for readmission.

(a) All students suspended for 365 days or expelled may, after 180 calendar days from the date of the beginning of the student's suspension or expulsion, request in writing readmission to the public school unit. The governing body of the public school unit shall develop and publish written policies and procedures for the readmission of all students who have been expelled or suspended for 365 days, which shall provide, at a minimum, the following process:

(1) The process for 365-day suspended students:

a. At the governing body's discretion, either the superintendent or the governing body itself shall consider and decide on petitions for readmission. If the decision maker is the superintendent, the superintendent shall offer the student an opportunity for an in-person meeting. If the decision maker is the governing body of the public school unit, the governing body may offer the student an in-person meeting or may make a determination based on the records submitted by the student and the superintendent.

b. The student shall be readmitted if the student demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board or superintendent that the student's presence in school no longer constitutes a threat to the safety of other students or staff.

c. A superintendent's decision not to readmit the student may be appealed to the governing body of the public school unit pursuant to G.S. 115C-45(c). The superintendent shall notify the parents of the right to appeal.

d. There is no right to judicial review of the board's decision not to readmit a 365-day suspended student.

e. A decision on readmission under this subsection shall be issued within 30 days of the petition.

(2) The process for expelled students:

a. The governing body of the public school unit shall consider all petitions for readmission of expelled students, together with the recommendation of the superintendent on the matter, and shall rule on the request for readmission. The governing body shall consider the petition based on the records submitted by the student and the response by the administration and shall allow the parties to be heard in the same manner as provided by G.S. 115C-45(c).

b. The student shall be readmitted if the student demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board or superintendent that his or her presence in a school no longer constitutes a clear threat to the safety of other students or staff.

c. A decision by a governing body of a public school unit to deny readmission of an expelled student is not subject to judicial review.

d. An expelled student may subsequently request readmission not more often than every six months. The governing body of the public school unit is not required to consider subsequent readmission petitions filed sooner than six months after the previous petition was filed.

e. A decision on readmission under this section shall be issued within 30 days of the petition.

(b) If a student is readmitted under this section, the governing body and the superintendent have the right to assign the student to any program within the public school unit and to place reasonable conditions on the readmission.

(c) If a teacher was assaulted or injured by a student, and as a result the student was expelled, the student shall not be returned to that teacher's classroom following readmission unless the teacher consents. (2011-282, s. 2; 2022-74, s. 7.7(j).)