A teacher may suspend a student for up to two days.[1] A principal may suspend a student for up to five days.[2] With suspensions, there must be a pre-suspension conference involving the principal and teacher and the student. At that conference, the student is told why they are being suspended and what the evidence is against them, and they are given an opportunity to present their version of the event and any evidence in their favor. The law does not require the school to wait for the parent/guardian/other education rights holder to arrive to hold this pre-suspension conference.[3] However, the school is required to make reasonable efforts to contact the parent/guardian/other education rights holder by phone at the time of the suspension.[4] A student can be suspended without a pre-suspension conference if the principal determines that an emergency situation exists. An emergency situation is where there is a “clear and present danger” to the life, safety or health of students or school staff.[5] If no pre-suspension conference is held, because it is an emergency situation, a conference must be held within two school days. Both the parent/guardian/other education rights holder and student must be notified of this conference and the student must be allowed to return to the campus to attend.[6] You must also be informed in writing of a suspension.[7] The written notice should specify the section or sections of the Education Code which the district says your child violated. You are required to respond without delay to any request from school officials to attend a conference regarding your child’s behavior.[8]