Whether your student attends school in Laramie, Natrona County, Campell County, Cheyenne, or anywhere else in Wyoming, they may face discipline for behavior away from school. While many parents would view things done by their student off-campus as a matter for the parent and not the school, many school systems will discipline students for this behavior. If your student faces discipline for behavior and you view it as an overreach into your family life, you may feel angry and frustrated. But student discipline is more than frustrating or embarrassing—it can have long-term consequences for your child.
Consequences of School Discipline
School discipline can have a “domino effect” of negative consequences for a student, particularly in middle school. Even a single suspension will dramatically increase the risk of youth dropping out. A middle or high school student who receives a suspension from school is more likely to:
- Have falling grades or fail classes.
- Enter the juvenile justice system.
- Be denied admission to the college of their choice.
The Lento Law Firm can defend your child's interest, help you prevent these consequences, and protect your child's future. The Lento Law Firm is experienced in representing middle and high school students accused of misconduct. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team knows that even low-level discipline can harm the long-term prospects of a young person. According to recent studies, the discipline of middle school students can lead to further behavior problems and failure at school. Don't fail to take action to secure the best possible outcome for your student. Contact the Lento Law Firm by calling 888.535.3686 or leaving your details online so we can contact you. The Lento Law Firm is nationwide—we can represent your student in Wyoming or any other state.
Discipline for Off-Campus Misconduct
Sometimes, a student will engage in misbehavior while off school grounds. Whether this becomes a school issue and results in school discipline depends on the connection between the misbehavior and the interests and activities at the school. Some things are disruptive no matter where they occur and must be addressed as health or safety issues. But at other times, the link between misbehavior and school interests is more indirect and questionable. For example, let's assume that your middle school student takes an unauthorized vehicle for a joyride and is arrested. If he is alone in the vehicle, there is probably no link to school interests, and the school would be unlikely to take action. But also assume that he takes other school basketball team members for the joyride, and they are in the car during the arrest. The link to school activities is clearer, and the school will likely address this behavior. Then, please assume that the car in question was the coach's car and that it was damaged. In the final scenario, a clear school interest is present, and the student will likely face stiff discipline.
Wyoming School Responses to Off-Campus Misconduct
In Wyoming, schools' responses to off-campus misconduct allegations depend on whether the alleged misconduct is disruptive to the school or detrimental to other students. The issues depend on how related the misconduct is to the school.
Misconduct is unrelated to school activities or policies.
Where the alleged misconduct is unrelated to the school, it is difficult to see how it could be disruptive or damaging to other students. Wyoming schools will likely see this type of misconduct as a parental issue and are unlikely to seek discipline against the student.
Misconduct is indirectly related to the school.
In situations where the alleged misconduct is more tangentially or indirectly related to the school or school interests. This “grey area” will produce disputes and questions from students and parents. If a student's off-campus behavior is only tangentially connected to school activities, the school may or may not take action against the student. The most important question the school should ask is whether the alleged misconduct is disruptive to school operations and activities or whether there is a health or safety issue for other students. While this may sound like a clear and objective standard, it is subjective and complicated. If a student makes a politically unpopular statement on social media, it may anger other students, but it is difficult to see whether this disrupts school or harms other students. But imagine if the same student makes a racist statement about a teacher on social media. It becomes much easier to see the connection and interest of the school in the post. If discussions on social media take on a tone of bullying or hazing of another student, the school is more likely to become involved.
Misconduct is directly related to school policy or interest.
Where there is a clear connection between allegations of misconduct against a student and the school's interests, the school will likely take action. This is particularly true if a health or safety concern of another student or group of students is present. If a student appears to be a risk to the school or if he has made statements suggesting that he is considering violence, the school may feel compelled to act. In these situations, it is critical to have an attorney to protect your child's interest and reputation. If your student is disciplined for severe misconduct allegations, call the Lento Law Firm and take action quickly.
Suspension, Expulsion, and Alternative Placement in Wyoming Schools
Wyoming laws protect students' rights to stay in school and finish their educations. No expulsion in Wyoming can exceed a year, except for safety issues. For suspensions of ten days or less, the student is given the right to see the charges and evidence of misconduct and the right to respond. The school district must make a good-faith effort to contact the student's parents.
For suspensions of 10 days or more, the student has a right to a formal hearing. Wyoming law places the function of criminal punishment in the courts and with parents. It limits the ability of schools to discipline a student who has faced a criminal penalty further, except where safety concerns necessitate it.
Grounds for school suspension in Wyoming include:
- Willful disobedience or open defiance.
- Destruction of school property or vandalism.
- Behavior disruptive to others, including profanity and habitually disruptive behavior.
- Physical violence against a student or teacher.
- Abuse or bullying of another student.
- Possession of a gun on school property or a school bus.
Controlled Substances and School Discipline
One subject the Wyoming law is silent about is drug use and abuse. In December of 2023, Wyoming Public Radio asked about the discipline of students for drug use. Many schools are concentrating on getting students well and getting them to treatment as opposed to seeking to punish the student further. Wyoming law prohibits punishing a student for behavior that the legal system is punishing or addressing unless necessary for safety. If your student is facing discipline for the use of a controlled substance, you may wish to seek treatment and ask that any discipline be rehabilitative and not punitive. The Lento Law Firm can assist you as you seek to address discipline from the school system based on drug use.
The Consequences of School Discipline in Wyoming
If your child is disciplined for off-campus misconduct, that discipline can have immediate consequences and lead to long-term challenges. If the school retains a discipline record in the student's file, that discipline may resurface years later to harm the student's prospects and opportunities. No parent should treat school discipline as routine or unimportant—it potentially damages students for years to come.
Short-term Effects: Some effects of a disciplinary suspension are obvious. The suspended student will miss instruction and classroom time and may miss tests. For this reason, even a short suspension can result in a falling or failing grade. Suspended students are likelier to experience lost motivation, lower standardized scores, and lower achievement. Even highly motivated students who take AP courses may find that a suspension leads to an inability to pass the test adequately to receive college credit. Middle school students appear to be especially vulnerable to the negative effects of suspensions, with one study finding that suspended middle school students were more likely to misbehave in the future. Even if your student does their best to study and keep up at home during a suspension, it is hard to keep up with classwork when you are not in the classroom.
Long-term Consequences: Parents may be surprised that a middle or high school disciplinary record will follow their student into the college application process. It does, and the extent of the use of this data by colleges is so troubling that it was the focus of a New York Times editorial. The Center for Community Alternatives found that 73 percent of American colleges collect disciplinary data on applicants, and 89 percent of those use it in admissions. Even if colleges accept an applicant with a disciplinary past, they may ban the student from university housing based on the discipline. While students joke about their “permanent records,” there does appear to be such a thing, and certain types of discipline are particularly damaging for college admissions. This includes any allegation of misconduct, plagiarism, or dishonesty. Even a minor incident can damage applicants' chances in the hypercompetitive college admissions process. For these reasons, a parent must view their child's record and try to clear up any issues before the college application process begins. Call the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team if you have concerns about how a disciplinary record might affect your student in the long term and whether expungement of the records is possible. They can advise you on preventing a disciplinary record from harming your student's long-term education opportunities.
Navigating the School Disciplinary Process in Wyoming
If the school has given signals that it will take action against your student for off-campus misconduct, they may face suspension, expulsion, or other school discipline. At this point, you need to secure experienced counsel to assist with your case.
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm will be able to:
- Advise you as to the legality of the proposed discipline.
- Advise you on how other issues, such as disability, might affect your case.
- Open lines of communication with the school to seek informal resolution of the case.
- Investigate claims and make sure your student can tell their side of the story.
- Advise you on hearing and appeal issues, if necessary.
- Hold the school accountable for its processes and policies and provide you with a thorough understanding of its policies and regulations.
- Negotiate with the school.
As a parent, you should begin gathering evidence as soon as you become aware of the possibility of discipline of your child. Take a moment and write down everything you remember about the events. If you have a conversation with a school official, take notes on what you discussed and do this immediately after the meeting when your memory is fresh. Always discuss the legality of recording conversations ahead of time with counsel. Ensure you understand the school's position and what that position is based on, and always prepare for meetings with the principal or board. Most importantly, don't try to do this alone—you need help to provide the best defense for your student.
The Lento Law Firm Can Help Secure Your Student's Future
The Lento Law Firm has successfully represented hundreds of students nationwide for all types of misconduct allegations. Wherever you are in Wyoming, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can provide tough and experienced representation dedicated to your child's success. As a parent or guardian, you may be your child's best cheerleader, but you may not be the best advocate legally. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you protect your students' best interests and their prospects for the future. Call 888.535.3686 or provide your details online, and we will contact you.
