What a Colorado public school must do when it suspends or expels your child — the caps, the hearing, and where the appeal clock actually lives.
Federal floor (all states): notice of the charges, an explanation of the evidence if your child denies them, and a chance to tell their side before a suspension of up to 10 days (Goss v. Lopez). With an IEP, the federal discipline clock adds the 10-school-day manifestation review and the 45-school-day interim-setting rules (34 CFR §§300.530–300.536).
Longest single suspension: 10 school days by a principal; extensions capped at 25 school days total.
Hearing: A hearing is required before expulsion or denial of admission if the parent or guardian requests one..
Appeal deadline in state law: 10 days to appeal to the board of education — to board of education.
Longest expulsion: 1 year.
Sources: C.R.S. § 22-33-105(2)
Rules checked October 2026 — every rule on this page is cited to its source. Verify day counts against your district's official calendar.
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