School Expulsions And Pressure To Waive Rights- Be Wary Before You Sign Anything
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Waivers of rights are significant things. However, more and more, parents are subjected to high pressure to sign documents waiving their and their child's rights: to hearing, to a properly noticed hearing, to time limits for the hearing...in school expulsion matters. Waivers under pressure can be disastrous for students. One parent told me that their school district provided them with a document for a "stipulated" expulsion ( meaning you simply consent to the expulsion in writing) and told them to sign by Friday or FACE A HEARING! The parent had a picture painted of doom and gloom if they DID NOT sign the document. Yet, the document bound their child to be expelled for the maximum time possible. Nothing at all would have been gained by signing the document and they could potentially have improved their punishment by simply going to hearing, or involving legal counsel. How could they ge...