Education Code § 37.005

Sec. 37.005. SUSPENSION. (a) The principal or other appropriate administrator may suspend a student who engages in conduct identified in the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 as conduct for which a student may be subject to an in-school or out-of-school suspension. (b) An out-of-school suspension under this section may not exceed three school days. An in-school suspension under this section is not subject to any time limit. (b-1) A school's principal or other appropriate administrator shall review the in-school suspension of a student under this section at least once every 10 school days after the date the suspension begins to evaluate the educational progress of the student and to determine if continued in-school suspension is appropriate. If the principal or other appropriate administrator determines that continued in-school suspension is appropriate, the principal or other appropriate administrator shall document the determination. (b-2) A school shall provide a student subject to an in-school suspension under this section with appropriate behavioral support services and comparable educational services as the student would receive in the classroom. If the student receives special education services under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, the student must: (1) continue to receive special education and related services specified in the student's individualized education program; and (2) continue to have an opportunity to progress in the general curriculum. (c) A student who is enrolled in a grade level below grade three may not be placed in out-of-school suspension unless while on school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school property, the student engages in: (1) conduct that contains the elements of an offense related to weapons under Section 46.02 or 46.05, Penal Code; (2) conduct that threatens the immediate health and safety of other students in the classroom; (3) documented conduct that results in repeated or significant disruption to the classroom; or (4) selling, giving, or delivering to another person or possessing, using, or being under the influence of any amount of: (A) marihuana or a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.; (B) a dangerous drug, as defined by Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code; or (C) an alcoholic beverage, as defined by Section 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code. (c-2) On receiving a written request from the student's parent or person standing in parental relation to the student, the principal or other appropriate administrator may at the principal's or other appropriate administrator's sole discretion reassign a student placed in out-of-school suspension under Subsection (c) to an in-school suspension if the student's parent or person standing in parental relation to the student demonstrates through supporting information and documentation that the parent or person is unable to provide suitable supervision for the student during school hours during the period of the suspension. The alternative placement provided by this section may be used only in extenuating circumstances and may not be used as a routine replacement for out-of-school suspension. The school district shall maintain documentation of each reassignment under this subsection, including the parent's or person's request, the reason for the parent's or person's unavailability, and the supporting information and documentation. (d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not place a student who is homeless in out-of-school suspension unless the student engages in conduct described by Subsections (c)(1)-(4) while on school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school property. The campus behavior coordinator may coordinate with the school district's homeless education liaison to identify appropriate alternatives to out-of-school suspension for a student who is homeless. In this subsection, "student who is homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a. (e) A school district shall provide to a student during the period of the student's suspension under this section, regardless of whether the student is placed in in-school or out-of-school suspension, an alternative means of receiving all course work provided in the classes in the foundation curriculum under Section 28.002(a)(1) that the student misses as a result of the suspension. The district must provide at least one option for receiving the course work that does not require the use of the Internet. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1055, Sec. 8, eff. June 20, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 696 (H.B. 674), Sec. 2, eff. June 12, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 479 (H.B. 692), Sec. 1, eff. June 7, 2019. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (H.B. 3012), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2019. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1066 (H.B. 6), Sec. 9, eff. June 20, 2025.