In order to maintain safe and orderly schools, the State of California authorizes school districts to suspend or expel students for the commission of serious offenses. Suspension is defined as exclusion from school and all school activities for a period of one to five days. Expulsion is defined as removal of the student from all schools in the Panama-Buena Vista School District for an extended period of time. In some instances, the period of expulsion may cover one school year. Students considered for expulsion are brought before the District's Administrative Hearing Panel where the facts of the case are presented. The District's Board of Trustees reviews the panel's finding and determines whether or not to issue an expulsion order.

In accordance with Education Code 48900, school districts are granted the authority to suspend, and MAY recommend expulsion proceedings, students who have committed any of the following acts:

1. Fighting
2. Weapon or dangerous object
3. Possession of use of drugs or alcohol
4. Sale of drugs or alcohol
5. Robbery or extortion
6. Property damage
7. Theft
8. Possession of use of tobacco
9. Obscene acts or habitual profanity
10. Drug paraphernalia
11. Disruptions and/or defiance
12. Receiving stolen property
13. Imitation firearm
14. Sexual assault or sexual battery
15. Witness harassment or intimidation
16. Aiding or abetting the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury
17. (.2) Sexual harassment
18. (.3) Hate violence
19. (.4) Harassment, threats, or intimidation, including personal or via electronic devices
20. (.7) Terroristic threats against school officials and/or school property

1. Causing serious physical injury to another person.
2. Possession of any knife or other dangerous object of no reasonable use to the pupil.
3. Unlawful possession of any controlled substance.
4. Robbery or extortion.
5. Assault of battery, upon any school employee.
6. Possessing, selling, or otherwise furnishing a firearm.
7. Brandishing a knife at another person.
8. Unlawfully selling a controlled substance.
9. Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault or committing a sexual battery.
10. Possession of an explosive.