The Hearing Office Information

The Hearing Office has transitioned to the Department of Student Services. If you need to schedule an Expulsion or Removal Beyond 10 Days Hearing, please complete the following steps:

Record Incident in Infinite Campus Behavior Management Module.
Email or call your Area Superintendent to confirm their approval to seek an Expulsion or Removal Beyond 10 days.
Complete the Hearing Office Request Form with all the information about the student and what is needed for the hearing. https://forms.gle/huiS49Bq2HP2g94j8.
Confirmation of a hearing date and time will be given within 24-48 hours on school days. After the hearing date and time is set, the Hearing Office will share with the Parent/Guardian an Outlook calendar invite that will include a Zoom link or an address to a physical location with all involved parties to carry out the remote hearing.
All Regular Ed hearings are currently being conducted via Zoom. All SPED hearings are being conducted in-person.
Generate the Suspension with Intent to Expel or Suspension with Intent to Remove Beyond 10 Days Due Process Letter.
Fax (614)-365-8785 or email the Due Process Letter to "safetyandsecurity@columbus.k12.oh.us". Safety and Security will assist in getting this notification distributed to the Parent/Guardian.
Upload Due Process Discipline Letters and Incident Statement to the Documents Tab in Infinite Campus.
Email witness statement(s) and/or any other confidential documentation to HearingOffice@columbus.k12.oh.us (if applicable).

The Hearing Office is working to make virtual and in-person Hearings as efficient as possible. Any modifications or additions to the steps above will be shared with Building Administration as they are finalized. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to call or email the Hearing Office.

What to Send to the Hearing Office

The following information should be in the Cumulative Folder and Packet:

PRINCIPAL’S SUMMARY OF THE INCIDENT AND INVESTIGATION

Typed Summary

DUE PROCESS DISCIPLINE LETTERS

General Education Student–Intent to Expel

Special Education Student–IntenttoRemoveOver10DaysSPED

Special Education Student–PR-02 Parent Invitation (IEP Invitation)

504 Plan Student–Intent to Remove Over 10 Days 504

· The Intent to Suspend and any other suspension letters for all students if OSS was assigned

SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

· Copy of Current IEP

· Copy of Current ETR

· Progress Notes

· Functional Behavior Assessment

· Behavior Intervention Plan

504 PLAN STUDENT REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

· 504Plan

· Eligibility Determination Packet

WITNESS STATEMENT (complete all that apply)

· Accused

· Victim

· Staff Members/Bus Driver

· Students

· Safety and Security

· SRO/Police Officer including documentation of arrest/Charges filed

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

· Transcript

· Attendance

· Current Grades

· Behavior Report/All discipline related information

Remember to send all this information through email at HearingOffice@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Due Process Hearing Office Referral

The Due Process Hearing is entered when there is an intent to expel (or remove over 10 days) from the educational environment and a Hearing has been scheduled with the Hearing Office.

When using the Resolution Type of Due Process Hearing Office, the student will not have attendance that corresponds with the Hearing Resolution.

The law states that parent/guardian/custodian of student must be notified in writing, of the student’s expulsion or suspension within ONE school day (ORC 3313.66). Having the letter uploaded in the record shows that this Due Process step was followed. Additionally, it is the only official letter of record by which to refer in case of an appeal.

When the Hearing Office receives a hearing packet, staff complete an initial review of the information provided (i.e., letters, dates, other notifications such as PR02) to ensure that Due Process is followed.

When a discrepancy is identified between the written notifications and the discipline start date, it signifies a significant Due Process concern that requires further review.

For example, the student record shows a behavior incident occurred on 1/12/2024, the discipline start date was entered for 1/13/2024 yet the discipline letter shows a Generation Date of 1/20/2022 and the date the incident was entered into IC as 1/20/2024. These discrepancies can result in:

A hearing referral being rejected
Forcing the Hearing Officer to rule as “No Action Taken” on a hearing
A parent submitting a successful appeal to overturn a discipline decision

All steps on the Hearing Office documentation must be completed. Once the Expulsion Hearing Date has been set, an Intent to Expel letter must be generated.

The Hearing Office welcomes your questions regarding Due Process. Please contact us at 614-365-5640 or email at hearingoffice@columbus.k12.oh.us.

Resolution Type: Due Process Hearing Office Referral
Behavior Letter: Intent to Expel/Intent to Remove Over 10 Days