The law firm of Lozano Smith is advising districts to consider notifying teachers and parents of a new law requiring suspended students to be given their class assignments and homework. In an effort to prevent suspended students in grades 1-12 from falling behind in class assignments or homework, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 982, requiring all public and charter school teachers to provide homework assignments to suspended students, upon request. Teachers have historically had the option whether or not to require suspended students to complete any assignments and tests missed during the term of their suspension. Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, AB 982 requires a teacher to provide, upon request, homework to any student who has been suspended from school for two or more schooldays. This request must be made by either the suspended student, their parent, legal guardian, or other person holding the right to make educational decisions for the suspended student. If the request for homework is made, the assignments then must be turned in to the teacher by the student either upon the student’s return to school from suspension or within the timeframe originally prescribed by the teacher, whichever is later. The Legislature explicitly stated that the purpose of AB 982 is to provide the suspended student with the homework that the student would otherwise have been assigned so that the student does not unnecessarily fall behind academically. The Legislature also explicitly stated it did not intend to require a teacher to correct classroom assignments or homework missed while the student is suspended, or to add an additional burden on a teacher’s workload. With this in mind, AB 982 also provides that if a teacher is unable to grade the homework assignment before the end of the academic term, then the assignment shall not be included in the calculation of the student’s overall grade in the class. This added safeguard minimizes the impact on teachers who otherwise would have to grade these potentially delayed assignments, while also reducing the punitive academic impact on the suspended student. Visit for additional information.