School officials may unilaterally remove a student to an alternative educational placement for up to 45 days for violations involving weapons or drugs. In practice, this removal could total 55 days as the IDEA states that school officials may change the placement of the student
"to an appropriate interim alternative educational setting, another setting, or suspension, for not more than 10 school days and...
...to an appropriate interim alternative education setting for not more than 45 days"
for violations involving weapons or drugs.
This assumes that the student's misconduct is found to be a manifestation of his/her disability; students may be long-term suspended or expelled for misconduct that is NOT a manifestation of the student's disability. 20 U.S.C. section 1415(k)(1)(A).