Only person(s) having legal custody and holding the educational rights of the student may file an appeal.  

If you are not a biological parent who has legal custody of the student, you must include documentation (see suggested documents below) showing you have been awarded or extended educational rights for us to process your appeal. 

You can complete an appeal by downloading the fillable PDF Interdistrict Permit Appeal form above. Appeals are still accepted in person at our offices or via email to CWA@lacoe.edu.

Appeals can be submitted via email to CWA@lacoe.edu.. Hard copies are accepted in person at LACOE Education Center West, located at 12830 Columbia Way, Downey, California 90242, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.  

Appeals must be received by the Child Welfare and Attendance Unit within thirty (30) calendar days following the failure or refusal of a district to issue a permit (specifically, the 30-day timeframe begins from the date of the final letter of notice from the district, not the date of receipt by the parent) and will be accepted only after verification that all local administrative remedies have been exhausted. 

After 30 days, the County Board of Education loses its jurisdiction and cannot require a school district to respond to an appeal. The appeal is considered untimely and cannot be processed. 

If the deadline or 30^th day falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline to file will be extended to the next weekday that is not a holiday. 

Please note: only submit these items if they are applicable to your student appeal.

• Your original application for an interdistrict attendance permit with the denying school district, if applicable. (You may not have an application or denial if you are filing outside of the school district's permit application window).
• The FINAL denial letter for an interdistrict attendance permit from the denying school district, if applicable
• Proof of student enrollment, such as:
  • Student Transcript
  • Report cards for the past two (2) school years
  • Enrollment history printout from school
• Proof of residence, such as:
  • Mortgage statement or rental agreement
  • Utility bill (electricity, water, etc.)
  • Bank statement
• Proof of educational rights (if applicable, i.e. you are not the biological parent), such as:
  • Legal guardianship
  • Custody order/court order
  • Power of Attorney
• Enrollment information for sibling(s) or other student(s) in the household (please list relationship to student) attending desired school district, if applicable, such as:
  • Name, date of birth, and grade level
  • Proof of student enrollment (see above)
• Proof of parent employment within the desired school district, if applicable, such as
  • Letter from employer on letterhead
  • Recent paystub
  • Military orders
• Childcare provider information within the desired school district, if applicable, such as:
  • Name and address of childcare provider
    • If a business, copy of business license
    • If individual, copy of photo ID/driver license and proof of residence within the desired school district (see above for examples)

A pupil or a pupil's parent or legal guardian (holder of educational rights) may file an appeal with the County Office of Education.

You should file an appeal if you believe that:

1. The conduct for which the pupil was expelled was not related to school activity or school attendance in anyway, or the time it took to expel the pupil was longer than 40 school days absent a request for extension.

2. The expulsion hearing provided by the school district was unfair (e.g., pupil was not allowed representation or allowed to question witnesses or otherwise put on a defense).

3. The school district abused it’s discretion (e.g., the district did not follow it’s procedures, did not try other lesser means of correction, or the decision of the district is not supported by substantial evidence).

4. There is relevant and material evidence which could not have been provided earlier, even with the exercise of reasonable diligence, or that was improperly excluded by the district at the hearing.

You may download an expulsion appeal packet from the expulsion appeal webpage or call the Division of Student Support Services at 562-922-6233. Complete the notice of appeal form and return it to the Division of Student Support Services within 30 calendar days from the date of the school district’s decision to expel.

After thirty (30) days, the County Board of Education loses its jurisdiction and cannot require a school district to respond to an appeal. The appeal is considered untimely and cannot be processed.

Yes, if the notice of appeal is timely filed, a consultant with Attendance and Administrative Services will work with the pupil and their parent or guardian, as well as the school district, to determine if the appeal can be resolved without having a hearing.

LACOE offers specialized instruction and community based programs for youth in Los Angeles County. Learn more about Alternative Education options.