Category: Education Law

By Hope Kirsch, Kirsch-Goodwin & Kirsch, PLLC https://www.yourvalley .net/paradise-valley-independent/stories/kirsch-heres-what-to-do-when-your-child-needs-help-in-school,288281 If your child is struggling at all — in school work (academics), making friends, teachers complaining about behavior, almost anything that concerns you or the teachers — the school should be notifying you and suggesting to meet to evaluate the child for a 504 plan (accommodations)…

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On July 2, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education’s (Department) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a Fact Sheet, which provides guidance to help school districts prevent and address discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, or national origin. The Fact Sheet clarifies the legal obligations of school districts under Title VI of the Civil…

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By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995   What does a parent do when their child, a stellar wonderful student, gets a suspension, which may tarnish their education records forever?  Attack it and try to get it overturned of course. A student suspension is a permanent black mark in a school record,…

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Friday 8 March 2024 is International Women’s Day. Presumably to co-incide with this, the Scottish Government have released “Preventing and Responding to Gender Based Violence: A Whole School Framework“. It is noteworthy that the Scottish Government describe the document as a framework, rather than as guidance. However, the document does say that one of its…

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It was a good run! This blog will cease to exist at the close of business on Monday.  This blog is coming to an end. Since May 9, 2007, we have done much to advance our goal of increasing knowledge of  special education law among people who are involved in special education. Thank you to the…

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It is often stated, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”; especially if the “cure” creates misunderstanding, division, and conflict. This is true for most events which have a high stakes impact on one’s life as well as our childrens’ lives. And this is where Education Advocacy enters the discussion. Simply, during…

Read More “Planning for the New School Year: 2024-2025” »

Just Around the Corner: Reminder and Update on the New School Climate Improvement Plan (and Some Help Is on the Way Via Public Act 24-45) Last year, the Connecticut General Assembly passed significant revisions to the school climate and bullying requirements, via Public Act 23-167 as we explored at length in a prior posting.  As…

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By: Victoria M. Adeleke, Law ClerkEdited by: Sanmathi (Sanu) Dev, Esq. On August 7, 2024, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that a student who was granted a state issued diploma (GED) was allowed to re-enroll at his public high school and was still entitled to access a free appropriate public education (“FAPE”) under the…

Read More “N.J. Supreme Court Rules Student with State-Issued Diploma Entitled to Programming Under the IDEA” »

In the case of Doe v. Board of Educ. of Milton-Union Exempted Vill. Sch. Dist., a district court held that when deciding whether to grant a motion to stay for a civil proceeding pending the resolution of a related criminal case, the district court should consider seven factors: (1) how much the issues in the…

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When used correctly, stay-put provides a powerful and important protection for families who have children with disabilities. In short, stay-put prevents unilateral action by a school district when parents object to a change in their child’s educational program or placement. The protection ensures consistency in a student’s program during a dispute – which is critical…

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