Tips To Prepare Yourself For an Expulsion Hearing In High School

High school is supposed to be a fun time for students. These are the last years of your school life before you head to college. If you break a serious rule of your school, you could face expulsion, which means you won’t be allowed back in the school again. This is the last thing you want because an expulsion will reflect on your profile, lowering your chances of getting into a good college. 

When you break a school rule, your school will send you a letter of expulsion at your home address. The first notice usually contains information about an expulsion hearing and the date it will be held. While it differs from a court trial, an expulsion hearing is a legal procedure. Look up “education lawyer near me” today and contact one immediately. 

Tips to prepare yourself for an expulsion hearing in high school 

1. Ask the school to provide written copies of important documents. 

If you are facing expulsion, you can request the following copies of documents from the school: 

• Documents to be shown at the hearing.
• List of witnesses to be present at the hearing.
• Discipline records.
• Written statements made by teachers, other students, and you.
• Other school records you want to present at the hearing. 

Asking for these documents will help you defend yourself better at the hearing. 

2. Gather evidence to support your case. 

One of the best ways to protect yourself and strengthen your case is to gather solid evidence. An attorney can help you with this the best. The hearing is probably your only chance to prove yourself right and innocent, so you want to make the most of it. The more information you have to support your innocence, the better. 

The following steps may help in the evidence-gathering process: 

• Get your facts straight. Gather as much real information about the incident as possible. 
• Ask the school to provide you with a copy of your discipline records and other documents you might need for the hearing. 
• Find witnesses and visual evidence.
• Consult an attorney and learn about your rights. 

3. Make a list of the people who can help with your side of the story. 

Try finding someone outside the school, such as a family member or a friend, who knows about your character and can defend you in the hearing. If the person cannot be physically present in the hearing, ask them to write a letter describing their good qualities.