Presented by Brandon Wright, Esq.

Drug. Weapons. Bodily Harm. In these three “special circumstances,” the IDEA permits your district to take disciplinary action regardless of whether the behavior is a manifestation of the student’s disability — but there are restrictions. School law attorney Brandon Wright explains what you can and can’t do to meet the dual legal obligations of protecting the safety of the school environment while also protecting the rights of the student involved.

Ensure all staff are prepared for the next situation they face with guidance to:

• Implement procedures and protocols to follow when a student with a disability is involved in drugs, weapons or violence
• Address school safety issues while also providing the offending student with FAPE
• Identify when you can remove a student with a disability to an interim alternative educational setting
• Engage law enforcement, mental health intervention agencies and other community stakeholders during or after incidents
• And more