By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 In 2020, students were granted the right to have medical marijuana administered to them in school by their parent or guardian IF formally authorized by their school district. The circumstances surrounding this potential opportunity can be confusing and if the law is not followed properly,…
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Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 79 In this episode of Stress-Free IEP ®, Frances Shefter speaks with Diane Gould, Founder & Executive Director of PDA North America. PDA North America provides support and resources for individuals, families, and professionals living with Pathological Demand Avoidance. Episode Summary: IntroductionHost Frances Shefter welcomes Diane Gould, a licensed…
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The key federal laws that affect students with disabilities are the Individuals w/ Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Sec 504 of the Rehab Act of 1973 as amended (Section 504) and the Americans w/ Disabilities Act (ADA). Three federal laws address the obligation of public district schools and charter schools to meet the needs of students…
By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Transitioning from high school to college can be exciting and challenging for young adults. For a student who was previously on an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or Section 504 plan (accommodations plan) in high school, the challenges increase. However, proper planning and talking to the…
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By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. As you are aware, Donald Trump was recently elected President of the United States,and he takes the oath of office on January 20, 2025. He has not kept it a secret that hewants to dismantle the US Department of Education (ED), along with several otherfederal government agencies. Project 2025, which…
Board members sometimes just assume that whenever they enter into executive session under Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), they can invite anyone they want into the session. Furthermore, boards often assume that certain personnel (such as superintendents) have a right to be present. Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Commission (FOIC) recently stated “not so fast”…
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Excerpted from an interview of attorney Hope Kirsch to LRP: Parent attorney isn’t coming to IEP meeting, but school attorney is? Watch your step The case manager has all the documents ready and is just a couple of hours away from beginning the IEP meeting. Then the parent attorney calls to say she can’t make…
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By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 What does it take to issue a valid school suspension? Does a student have to DO something, or can they just be near someone who does something? Over the years, I have seen bystanders (aka witnesses) punished by schools when they did nothing but watch…
By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq. In today’s diverse classrooms, cultural competence is mandatory for students to thriveand it is a critical component of an effective special education program. Byunderstanding and respecting cultural differences, educators can improve educationaloutcomes for students with disabilities. Cultural competence is not just for “politicalcorrectness.” Rather, it is essential to building a…
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By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 College punishment can come swiftly and harshly, ending with a suspension or even an expulsion for minor activities. Even in the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) college systems, the discipline can be unfair and result in an unjust outcome. As such, a…
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