Texas suspension & expulsion rules

Texas's discipline card

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: 3 school days (out-of-school).

Hearing: Conference by the 3rd class day for DAEP/teacher removals; board (or designee) hearing before expulsion.

Appeal deadline: state law does not set one — it is in your district's code of conduct / grievance policy. Send the protective appeal letter today and make the district confirm its deadline in writing.

Longest expulsion: 1 year (DAEP and expulsion), unless a threat or best-interest finding after review.

Sources: Educ. Code §§37.001, 37.005, 37.009

Verified Texas levers

• In every suspension, DAEP, or expulsion decision the school MUST consider: self-defense, intent, disciplinary history, a disability that impairs the ability to appreciate wrongfulness, foster-care status, and homelessness (§37.001(a)(4)). Self-defense is a mandatory consideration — not an automatic defense.
• Many Texas districts require each appeal level to be requested within about 3 school days. Waiting for a 'state deadline' that does not exist is how Texas families lose the first week.
• The DAEP or expulsion order must be delivered to you and your child (§37.009(g)).
• Below grade 3, out-of-school suspension is barred except for weapons-type conduct and the other narrow §37.005(c) grounds.

Run the discipline decoder

Rules checked October 2026 — every rule on this page is cited to its source. Verify day counts against your district's official calendar.