Suspension, bullying reports, and your rights at school in Nevada

Nevada requires parents to enroll and send any child between 6 and 18 to school for the full school day, unless the child has already graduated.

The state also limits discipline by age. A school board may suspend or expel a student who is at least 11. A student from 6 to 10 generally may not be expelled, and a school needs special approval from its board in extraordinary situations. No student may be suspended or expelled only for skipping school or being labeled truant.

Before a Nevada school suspends or expels you, you must get notice of the charges, an explanation of the evidence, and a chance to schedule a hearing (a meeting where you can tell your side). The exception is a student who is a continuing danger, is an ongoing threat to disrupt classes, is selling drugs, or has a gun or dangerous weapon. That student can be removed right away, with the hearing held as soon as practicable. These hearings are closed to the public.

The federal floor comes from Goss v. Lopez (1975). The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that even a suspension of 10 days or less requires telling the student the charges and letting them tell their side.

For a significant suspension (a longer one) or an expulsion, each Nevada district and charter school must post an appeal policy on its website. The family must be told about the right to appeal. After the appeal hearing, the school may not make the punishment longer.

Nevada law also asks schools to try repair before removal. After a suspension of 3 days or more, or once a student reaches 5 days of suspension in a school year, the school must give a progressive discipline plan based on restorative justice (a plan focused on fixing harm and changing behavior).

Nevada's law on a safe and respectful learning environment (NRS Chapter 388) covers bullying, cyber-bullying, and discrimination based on race. Since 2021, 'race' in that law includes hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists.

A teacher, coach, or other staff member who sees bullying or hears about it must report it to the administrator the same day. If bullying likely happened, the administrator must act to stop it and start an investigation. Parents of the students involved must usually be told by the end of that school day. The investigation should be finished within 5 school days, with 2 extra days allowed in hard cases, and it ends in a written report.