Category: Education Law

If nothing else, the early days of the Trump administration 2.0 have been a whirlwind of legal activity.  Diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have of course been at the forefront and on February 14, 2025 the federal Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a new Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) making abundantly clear…

Read More “OCR, DEI and Connecticut Schools – Sorting Through a Legal Minefield: Pullman & Comley” »

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 As students have been pushed to online learning by Coronavirus, everything may outwardly seem very safe and innocent to parents, with kids attending distance classes quietly.  However, online school creates new opportunities for students to be disciplined by their school, and even suspended or expelled….

Read More “Online Learning Opens Door For More Student Punishment If Students And Parents Are Not Careful” »

Stress-Free IEP® with Frances Shefter, Episode 88 The Power of Peer Support In this episode of Stress-Free IEP®, host Frances Shefter welcomes Amanda Levin, founder of NeuroSpice Girls, a peer support and social group for moms of neurodivergent children in the greater Washington area. NeuroSpice Girls offers a private WhatsApp group, a Facebook community, and…

Read More “A Community for Moms of Neurodivergent Kids with Amanda Levin” »

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 School expulsions can be devastating for students, emotionally and otherwise, ending up with kids sent to a continuation school and damaging college entrance chances.  It is important to know what NOT to do when parents are fighting for their child’s future at an expulsion hearing.   Here…

Read More “Eight Things NOT To Do At A School Expulsion Hearing” »

By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.  One of the most dramatic proposals in recent history is President Trump’s renewed push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education. On February 12, 2025, he announced his desire to shut down the department “immediately,” calling it a “big con job” that wastes taxpayer dollars while failing to improve U.S….

Read More “Latest Threats to Special Education are a Slowdown in Civil Rights Enforcement and a Push to Abolish the Department of Education” »

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Schools and students are in turmoil in California, with all pushed to distance education for fear of  the “invisible enemy” aka Coronavirus.  But what about the upcoming fall and the 2020-21 schoolyear?  How will students return to school in the Coronavirus “new normal” and how…

Read More “Will Lack of Social Distancing Or Threats To Touch Someone Be Suspendable and Expellable Offenses When Students Return To School?” »

By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.  For families of students with disabilities, school isn’t just about grades or report cards—it’s about access, support, and the chance to thrive–whether alongside their general education peers, in stand-alone special education classes, or in nonpublic or private schools. For decades, laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and…

Read More “The Fear of Losing Legal Protections for Students with Disabilities Under the New Presidential Administration” »

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995   College discipline hearings can be difficult matters, and they all start with the allegation and investigation.  Due to the potential for severe punishment, it is important the initial steps are not mishandled. Usually the first notice of a discipline issue arrives via the student’s…

Read More “College Discipline: Initial Contact And Investigation Meeting” »

By Lateefah S. Williams, Esq.  Fair treatment of students with disabilities in schools remains a critical issue for parents, educators, and advocates alike. Federal laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), among others, offer some key protections to make sure children with disabilities receive necessary support without discrimination or unfair discipline. Understanding these rights can help parents advocate for their child’s best interests. 1. Right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)While IDEA ensures the right to…

Read More “What Parents Need to Know” »

The legal saga surrounding the 2024 Title IX Regulations reached a new peak earlier this month. On January 9, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky granted summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs in Tennessee v. Cardona, one of the cases challenging the 2024 Title IX Regulations. In doing so,…

Read More “Title IX Litigation Tracker: 2024 Title IX Regulations Vacated by District Court” »