A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to enact the parent and student educational involvement act.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑391(d5) reads as rewritten:
"(d5)	When a student is recommended for expulsion or suspension for more than 10 days ("long‑term suspension"),the local board shall give written notice to the student's parent, guardian, caregiver, or other person legally responsible for the child (hereinafter referred to as the parent). The written notice shall be provided to the student's parent by the end of the workday during which the suspension or expulsion is recommended when reasonably possible, but in no event later than the end of the following workday. The written notice shall provide at least the following information:
(1)	A description of the incident leading to the recommendation that the student be expelled or suspended;
(2)	The specific provisions of the student conduct policy or rule alleged to have been violated;
(3)	The specific process by which the parent may request a hearing to contest the suspension or expulsion, including the number of days within which the hearing must be requested;
(4)	The process by which a hearing will be held, including the student's right to examine evidence and present evidence, to confront and cross‑examine witnesses supporting the charge, and to call witnesses to verify the student's version of the incident;
(5)	That the parent is permitted to retain an attorney or advocate to represent the student in the hearing process;
(6)	Whether and the extent to which board policy permits the parent to have an advocate to accompany the student to assist in the presentation of his or her appeal instead of an attorney; and
(7)	That the parent has a right to review the student's educational records prior to the hearing.
Written notice may be provided by certified mail, telefax, e-mail, or any other written method reasonably designed to achieve actual notice of the recommendation for expulsion or long‑term suspension. If English is the second language of the parent or guardian, the notice shall be written in the parent or guardian's first language when the appropriate foreign language resources are readily available and in English. Both versions shall be in plain language and shall be easily understandable."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2009‑2010 school year.