Representation matters in school curricula as it does in other parts of life. The 2012 FAIR Education Act is a California law that requires schools to teach about the roles and contributions of various groups, including both men and women, members of ethic and...
Education Law
Can a school suspend or expel a student without evidence?
No. In California, the use of suspensions and expulsions is limited and requires due process. What are suspension and expulsion, exactly? Suspension is a temporary removal of a student from a class or from school grounds. Your school could suspend you from a class, an...
What counts as a disability for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protects students from discrimination in programs and activities that receive federal funding. The law applies to public school districts, colleges and universities and other state and local educational institutions. The...
What does the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act do?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is one of our nation’s most important education laws. It requires that all children be given a free appropriate public education (FAPE) by ensuring that qualifying students with disabilities receive special...
NLRB: Private college athletes are employees and can unionize
The term “student athlete” was created essentially to hide the fact that college-level athletes are actually employees, according to the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In fact, she threatened to take action against colleges and...
Student athletes now eligible for pay. They should be represented.
After winning three Olympic medals, gymnast Sunisa Lee will head to Auburn University this fall as one of the first athletes eligible to receive endorsement deals without sacrificing their amateur status. She might receive a substantial amount of money – if she’s...
Department of Education: Title IX protects transgender students
Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 was passed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in schools that receive federal funding. Recently, it has been open to question whether Title IX should be read to protect gay and transgender students from...
What is Seth’s Law, California’s anti-bullying statute?
In 2010, a 13-year-old California boy named Seth took his own life after experiencing years of anti-gay bullying in school. His school had failed to address the bullying, even though California law requires that all public school students be given equal access to...
Can schools punish kids for social media posts on their own time?
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...
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...