Do students have free speech rights that protect their non-school-related social media posts? Or can schools discipline students for violating school rules during their free time? The question is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court. The plaintiff is Brandi L, who...
Education Law
US Supreme Court to decide if college athletes must be paid
In 2014, a group of college athletes filed a class action against the National Collegiate Athletic Association and other major athletic conferences. They argued that the NCAA’s eligibility and compensation restrictions, meant to keep college sports amateur, are...
Report: Many more students receive failing grades during pandemic
How important is in-person instruction to a child’s school success? The coronavirus pandemic is giving unique insights into the process of learning. Even as schools and the community struggle to decide the right way to deal with the threat of illness, new information...
Court: Harvard’s affirmative-action doesn’t illegally discriminate
In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that universities cannot use race as the determining factor in admissions. In that case, declined students argued that the University of Michigan illegally relied upon race in its admissions process. As evidence, the students...
Judge: UC system cannot use test-optional admissions policy
In May, the University of California Board of Regents voted to drop the SAT/ACT testing requirement for admissions. That policy goes into effect in 2023. However, in the meantime, the regents gave campuses the option of considering SAT and ACT tests as they...
Multiple groups sue to block new campus sexual assault rules
The Education Department’s new rules for how schools should respond to allegations of sexual assault and harassment are slated to take effect next month. The issue is Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which protects the rights of all students at...
Timelines for IEP reassessments, transfers, due process hearings
In our last post, we talked about the deadlines for getting your child assessed for an individualized education program (IEP). Here are some deadlines associated with reassessments, transfers from out of state during the school year, due process requests and due...
Timelines for individualized education program assessments
If your child has been referred for a special education assessment, there are certain deadlines that must be met. Here are some of the basic deadlines for activities affecting special education programs in California: Once your child has been referred for an...
What rights does the IDEA give parents?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, guarantees each child a free and appropriate public education that prepares them for employment, further education and independent living. This is guaranteed for children with disabilities between the ages of...
GASLIGHTING: AN IEP DILEMMA FOR MANY PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES
According to Wikipedia, "gaslighting" refers to when a person or group attempts to sow seeds of doubt in an individual through denial, misdirection, contradiction, or misinformation. This office regularly fields calls from well-meaning parents all over California who...