Houston, Texas · K-12 discipline
Houston ISD DAEP Placements & Expulsions
How Houston Independent School District places students in its Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, how to appeal, and what happens at an expulsion hearing, taken from the district's own Student Code of Conduct and board policy.
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What to do right now in Houston ISD
- 1Write down the date your child was removed from class. Under Houston ISD's code: When a student is removed from class for a DAEP offense, the CBC or appropriate administrator must schedule a conference within 3 school days with the parent, the student, the referring campus, and, if a teacher removed the student, that teacher.
- 2Go to the conference and ask for the reasons in writing. Ask which section of the Student Code of Conduct the school says applies, and whether the placement is mandatory or discretionary.
- 3Get a copy of the placement order and note its length. The length is decided case by case, based on how serious the offense is, the student's age and grade level, how often the misconduct happened, the student's attitude, and legal requirements. The maximum is 1 calendar year, with some exceptions.
- 4If you disagree, appeal on time. Questions about discipline should go first to campus administration. Appeals of a DAEP placement follow board policy FOC (LOCAL).
- 5If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, ask the school about a manifestation determination review. Federal special education rules generally require one before a disciplinary removal of more than 10 school days.
Disciplinary Alternative Education Program
How DAEP placement works in Houston ISD
Governing document: Student Code of Conduct.
How a placement is decided
The campus behavior coordinator (CBC) or another appropriate administrator recommends DAEP placement. Before deciding, whether the placement is mandatory or discretionary, they must consider self-defense, intent, the student's disciplinary history, and a disability that substantially impairs the student's ability to understand the conduct was wrong.
The placement conference
When a student is removed from class for a DAEP offense, the CBC or appropriate administrator must schedule a conference within 3 school days with the parent, the student, the referring campus, and, if a teacher removed the student, that teacher.
How long placements last
The length is decided case by case, based on how serious the offense is, the student's age and grade level, how often the misconduct happened, the student's attitude, and legal requirements. The maximum is 1 calendar year, with some exceptions.
Reviews during placement
While placed, the student's status, including academic status, is reviewed by the campus administrator or the board's designee at least every 120 days. For high school students, progress toward graduation and the graduation plan are also reviewed.
Appealing a DAEP placement in Houston ISD
How to appeal
Questions about discipline should go first to campus administration. Appeals of a DAEP placement follow board policy FOC (LOCAL).
Expulsion in Houston ISD
How expulsion works
If a student is believed to have committed an expellable offense, the appropriate administrator schedules a hearing within a reasonable time and invites the parent in writing.
The expulsion hearing
The student gets a hearing with due process. The student may be represented by a parent or another adult who is not a district employee, may testify and present evidence and witnesses, and may question the district's witnesses.
Appealing an expulsion
After the hearing, the student may ask the board to review the expulsion. The student or parent must send a written request to the superintendent or designee within 7 days after receiving the written decision.
Where expelled students go
The code lists expulsion to the district's DAEP or to the Harris County JJAEP (Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program) as disciplinary options.
Key deadlines in Houston ISD discipline cases
- ⏱DAEP conference: must be scheduled within 3 school days with the parent, the student, and the referring campus.
- ⏱DAEP placement review: at least every 120 days.
- ⏱DAEP placements longer than 60 days or past the end of the next grading period (whichever is sooner): extra requirements apply before the placement can go on that long.
- ⏱Board review of an expulsion: the request is due within 7 days after receiving the written decision.
- ⏱Emergency expulsion: due process must be given within 10 days after the emergency expulsion.
Your child's rights in the process
- ✓At the DAEP conference, the student must be told the reasons for the removal, orally or in writing.
- ✓At the DAEP conference, the student must get an explanation of the basis for the removal.
- ✓At the DAEP conference, the student must get a chance to respond to the reasons for the removal.
- ✓The student and parent must receive a copy of the DAEP placement order, plus information on how to request a full individual and initial evaluation for special education services.
- ✓At each DAEP placement review, the student or parent may present arguments for the student's return to the regular classroom or campus.
- ✓The parent of a student placed in DAEP must be told of the right to request a behavioral agreement.
- ✓The parent must get written notice that the student can complete, at no cost, a required foundation curriculum course the student was taking when removed.
- ✓In an expulsion hearing, the student may be represented by a parent or another adult who is not a district employee.
- ✓In an expulsion hearing, the student may testify, present evidence and witnesses, and question the district's witnesses.
- ✓An expelled student may ask the board to review the expulsion decision.
Houston ISD board policies that govern discipline
Texas districts publish these in their board policy manual. LOCAL policies are the district's own rules; LEGAL policies restate state and federal law.
- §FOC (LOCAL): the policy that governs appeals of DAEP placements
- §FOCA (LEGAL): referenced for transition services for students returning from a DAEP
- §FODA (LEGAL): referenced (with FOCA) for transition services for students returning from a DAEP or JJAEP
- §FOC/FOD (LEGAL): referenced for appeals or complaints about specific discipline management techniques
- §FNG (LOCAL) or GF (LOCAL): referenced for appeals about being refused entry to or removed from district property
What is different about Houston ISD's process
- →A DAEP placement decision cannot be appealed beyond the Director, and consequences are not delayed while an appeal is pending.
- →If a behavioral agreement is followed, it may lead to a shorter DAEP placement period, as set out in the agreement.
- →Under the code's cell phone rules, a 5th personal communication device offense leads to a 10-day DAEP assignment.
- →Seniors in DAEP at graduation stay placed through graduation and may not take part in the graduation ceremony and related activities unless otherwise stated.
Texas Education Code, Chapter 37
What Texas law requires in every district
The placement conference
- Within 3 class days after a student is removed from class (by a teacher, or by the principal or another administrator for a DAEP placement), the campus behavior coordinator or another administrator must schedule a conference. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
- The conference includes the campus behavior coordinator or another administrator, a parent or guardian, the teacher who removed the student (if any), and the student. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
- At the conference, the student must be told the reasons for the removal, either in writing or out loud. The student must also get an explanation of why and a chance to respond. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
- The student may not go back to the regular classroom until the conference is held. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
The placement order
- After the conference, the campus behavior coordinator orders the placement for a length of time consistent with the student code of conduct, after considering the required factors. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
- If the length of the placement does not match the guidelines in the student code of conduct, the order must say so. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
- A placement may not last more than 1 year unless, after a review, the district decides the student is a threat to the safety of other students or district employees. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(a))
- The board or its designee must give the student and the parent or guardian a copy of the DAEP placement order. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(g))
Long placements
- Some DAEP placements last longer than 60 days or past the end of the next grading period, whichever comes first. For these, the parent or guardian has a right to notice and a chance to take part in a proceeding before the school board or its designee. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(b))
Appealing a DAEP placement
- District policy may allow a student to appeal the campus behavior coordinator's decision to the board or its designee. If so, the board's decision is final and cannot be appealed further. This does not apply to expulsions. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(b))
Reviews during placement
- A student in DAEP must have their status reviewed, including academic status, by the board's designee at least every 120 days. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(e))
- For a high school student, the board's designee and the parent or guardian must review progress toward graduation and set a specific graduation plan. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(e))
- At the review, the student or parent or guardian must have a chance to argue for the student's return to the regular classroom or campus. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(e))
Expulsion hearings
- Before a student can be expelled, the board or its designee must give the student a hearing with due process as required by the U.S. Constitution. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
- The parent or guardian must be invited to the hearing in writing. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
- At the hearing, the student may be represented by a parent or guardian, or by another adult who can guide the student and who is not a school district employee. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
- The district may hold the hearing even if no one attends for the student, as long as it made a good-faith effort to tell the student and parent or guardian the time and place. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
- Before expelling a student, the board must consider self-defense, the student's intent or lack of intent, and the student's disciplinary history. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
Appealing an expulsion
- If the board's designee made the expulsion decision, it can be appealed to the school board. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
- The board's decision can be appealed by trial de novo (a new trial) in a district court in the county where the school district's central office is located. (Tex. Educ. Code § 37.009(f))
Source: Texas Education Code, Chapter 37. Districts may add procedures, but not take away these protections.
Frequently asked questions: Houston ISD
How does Houston ISD decide on a DAEP placement?
The campus behavior coordinator (CBC) or another appropriate administrator recommends DAEP placement. Before deciding, whether the placement is mandatory or discretionary, they must consider self-defense, intent, the student's disciplinary history, and a disability that substantially impairs the student's ability to understand the conduct was wrong.
When is the DAEP placement conference at Houston ISD?
When a student is removed from class for a DAEP offense, the CBC or appropriate administrator must schedule a conference within 3 school days with the parent, the student, the referring campus, and, if a teacher removed the student, that teacher.
How do I appeal a DAEP placement in Houston ISD?
Questions about discipline should go first to campus administration. Appeals of a DAEP placement follow board policy FOC (LOCAL).
How long do DAEP placements last in Houston ISD?
The length is decided case by case, based on how serious the offense is, the student's age and grade level, how often the misconduct happened, the student's attitude, and legal requirements. The maximum is 1 calendar year, with some exceptions.
Can a Houston ISD expulsion be appealed?
After the hearing, the student may ask the board to review the expulsion. The student or parent must send a written request to the superintendent or designee within 7 days after receiving the written decision.
Sources
Every district-specific fact above was checked against the exact wording of these official Houston ISD documents on November 1, 2026. Codes of conduct change each school year, so confirm details in the version that applies to your child.
- https://www.houstonisd.org/families-students/student-requirements-expectations/code-of-conduct
- https://www.houstonisd.org/fs/resource-manager/view/4df66ec9-6af2-4c37-8de2-569772099a6d
General information, not legal advice. AdvocatED is an education advocacy service, not a law firm.
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