School suspension and expulsion appeals
in Ontario
Has your child been suspended, or is the school considering expulsion? Advice for parents and students in Ontario on the discipline process and appeals, online by video or phone.
Initial consultation free for employment and human rights matters.
In Ontario, student discipline is governed by Part XIII of the Education Act and its regulations. A principal can suspend a student, and in some cases a student can be expelled. Both decisions can be appealed, and the time limits are short.
What we can do for you
Suspension appeals
Reviewing the notice and preparing an appeal to the school board within the deadline.
More about education law →Expulsion hearings
Preparing for the board hearing and, if needed, an appeal to the Child and Family Services Review Board.
More for students and parents →Disability and discipline
How a student's disability, IEP and the duty to accommodate fit into the decision.
How a consultation works
You book
Choose a time online, or email us. You don't need any documents yet, and nothing you send at this stage is a commitment.
We run a conflict check
A lawyer can't act for both sides of the same dispute. So before we hear the details, we confirm we haven't acted for the other party, such as your employer or the school. It's a short check, and we email you as soon as it's done.
Your consultation
By video or phone. You tell us what happened. We listen, then explain your options in plain language. Ask anything.
You decide
If you'd like more help, we explain the cost before any work starts, in writing. If not, there's no obligation and no charge.
Suspensions
A suspension can last from one to 20 school days. It is decided by the principal, who must consider the student's circumstances before deciding. Parents of a student under 18 should receive written notice of the suspension, the reasons, its length and how to appeal. During a longer suspension, the board is expected to offer a program so the student can keep learning.
Expulsions
For more serious incidents, a principal may suspend a student and investigate whether to recommend expulsion. An expulsion can be from the student's school only or from all schools of the board, and it is decided by the board after a hearing, not by the principal alone. Parents and the student can take part in that hearing and respond to what is said.
Mitigating and other factors
Before suspending or expelling, the principal or board must consider mitigating factors set out in the regulation (O. Reg. 472/07), including:
- Whether the student has the ability to control their behaviour.
- Whether the student has the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of their behaviour.
- Whether the student's continuing presence creates an unacceptable risk to the safety of anyone at the school.
Appeal deadlines
A suspension can be appealed to the school board. The notice of intention to appeal is generally due within 10 school days of the start of the suspension, and the board generally hears the appeal within 15 school days after that, unless the parties agree otherwise. An expulsion decision can be appealed to the Child and Family Services Review Board, generally within 30 days. Each board has its own procedure, which should be described in the notice you received.
Students with disabilities and IEPs
Where a student has a disability, the school also has a duty under Ontario's Human Rights Code to accommodate the student up to undue hardship. Whether the behaviour was linked to a disability, whether the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) was being followed and whether supports were in place can all matter in a discipline decision and in an appeal.
What parents can bring
Helpful material often includes:
- The suspension or expulsion letter and any notices from the school.
- The IEP, IPRC statement of decision or any medical or assessment reports.
- Report cards, emails with staff and notes of meetings.
- Names of anyone who saw what happened, and the student's own account written down early.
How we can help
We can review the decision and the notice, explain the process and deadlines, help prepare a written appeal and support you at a board hearing. The consultation fee for education matters is explained before any work begins.
Related: Education law · Students and parents
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed: October 2026 · Lutfi Law
Common questions
Still unsure? Our assistant can answer general questions any time.
Ask the AI assistantHow long can a suspension last?
From one to 20 school days.
How quickly do I need to appeal a suspension?
Generally within 10 school days of the start of the suspension. The notice from the school should say how and to whom.
Who decides an expulsion?
The school board, after a hearing. The principal can recommend expulsion but does not decide it.
Can an expulsion be appealed?
Yes. A board's expulsion decision can generally be appealed to the Child and Family Services Review Board within 30 days.
My child has an IEP. Does that matter?
It can. The school must consider mitigating factors and has a duty under the Human Rights Code to accommodate a student's disability, which may be relevant to both the decision and the appeal.
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