Reputation matters in education law.
Our singular focus on education law since 2014 separates us from other firms that practice education law occasionally or “on the side.” This focus means we are fully prepared to advocate for students, and have the know-how and experience to achieve positive outcomes. We have a team of education law attorneys and advocates working together to leverage state and federal education laws in favor of our student clients.
MEET THE k12 EDUCATION TEAM:
Liz Abdnour, Attorney
Jessica Moore, Attorney
Amy Solaro, Attorney
Coriann Gastol, Attorney
Renee Stromski, Attorney
Mark Weiker, Attorney
Student and parent representation may include:
Student discipline, suspension, expulsion (and related hearings);
Reporting bullying and harassment;
Representing clients in harassment investigations;
Representation in school-conducted threat assessments and referrals to juvenile court;
Student sexual assault by school employees or occuring on school grounds or on campus;
District residency investigations and appeals;
Securing extended learning services stemming from the 2020-21 pandemic;
Student-athlete representation and athletic appeals;
Homeschooling support and reporting;
COVID19 specific questions and concerns;
and much more (listed below).
We also represent school employees (see here).
Complete the form below and you WILL receive a call to schedule a consultation.
Recent Representative k12 Cases*
Suspension/Expulsion Cases*
Avoided an expulsion and received a modified suspension for a first-offender student accused of vaping on school property.
8th grade student was recommended for expulsion. After informing the school that they violated many of the student's rights, the school agreed to take expulsion off the table, which allowed the student to return to school the following day.
Successfully assisted an elementary school student in securing counseling in lieu of expulsion for behavioral issues.
Helped a student obtain placement into a specialized education program and avoid expulsion following a mental health incident at school.
Successfully appealed an expulsion for a high school student who brought drug paraphernalia to school.
Successfully represented a middle school student in an expulsion hearing, preventing their removal from school.
Assisted in expunging a student’s entire disciplinary record after the school violated the student’s due process rights.
Helped a HS student avoid expulsion after being accused of using a water gun on private property.
Avoided expulsion for student incorrectly accused of making threatening statements toward other students.
After MS student made inappropriate but private statements to a friend, we helped the student get a proposed expulsion set aside so student could return to school, continue classes and learn from his conduct.
Avoided expulsion for a high school student mistakenly accused of vaping in the school restroom.
Avoided an expulsion for a student with ADHD where the conduct in question was impulsive and likley a manifestation of the student’s disability; allowed the student to return to school with school-provided counseling support.
Middle school student was suspended; however, the disciplinary record was misleading and the school initially denied the parents the ability to appeal. We communicated with school’s legal counsel and agreed to update the disciplinary records to reflect the actual facts.
Filed and later resolved a lawsuit against a private religious school after the school improperly suspended a disabled student and failed to provide due process.
Avoided an expulsion for a middle school student who initiated a fight with a student who had been bullying him.
Successfully avoided expulsion for student who accidently caused another student to lose consciousness.
Appealed disciplinary outcome to allow participation in end-of-year class field trip.
Avoided expulsion for a high school student who made an inappropriate joke at school. Provided school with additional diagnoses to update the student’s IEP in order to get additional services/accommodations in place.
Avoided an expulsion for a 4th grade student who was falsely accused of making a threat at the school.
Assisted a client in getting an expulsion (including the listed code of conduct violation) reduced following an incident that was taken entirely out of context.
Middle school student was suspended with a recommendation for expulsion for fighting. This student had several behavioral referrals previously that the district considered. However, in the hearing we were able to show that these behaviors were (1) the result of a disability and (2) were a reaction to many incidents of racism. The school agreed not to expel the student and we worked with them to initiate accommodations and a plan for reporting future incidents.
Assisted client in modifying expulsion for a middle school student, resulting in the student’s ability to return to school 3 weeks earlier.
Avoided expulsion for a high school student who made inappropriate comments on social media. Worked cooperatively with the school to update the student’s IEP to include additional services.
Worked with a school to modify an existing expulsion abeyance agreement without going through the expulsion appeal process.
Following a fight at school by a high school student-client, assisted the student to avoid removal from school and worked with the school to obtain anger management counseling for the student.
Helped avoid discipline and removal from school for a middle school student who made a social media post that was not threatening (included a list of his least favorite people in the class).
After MS student was suspended for 10 days with a recommendation for expulsion, we identified significant procedural errors made by the school, resulting in removal of the discipline from the student’s record.
9th grade student was falsely accused of violating the student code of conduct after being bullying by the same students. Client was suspended with a recommendation for expulsion. Despite the student admitting to some of the behavior, we worked with the school to avoid an expulsion and create a safety plan for the student upon his return to the school.
8th grade student with a disability was suspended and an expulsion was recommended. District agreed to stipulate that the student’s actions were a manifestation of his disability in the interest of moving forward. We created a plan and worked with the school to get him additional supports. Student finished the year successfully with no further incidents.
Obtained disciplinary record amendment and partial refund from a private school for improper discipline and curriculum misrepresentations.
For due process litigation, click HERE.
Bullying and Harassment Cases*
Assisted frustrated parents in following the school's bullying complaint process to develop a safety plan for a bullied student whose efforts at reporting were met with no response or disbelief. The efforts built connections between the student and certain staff members so that the student feels comfortable raising concerns.
Helped a transgender middle school student who was being harassed successfully obtain services and transfer to a more supportive education environment.
Middle school student was being bullied. We worked with the school to build a strong safety plan and ensured that the safety plan applied to the school bus as well.
6th grade student was suspended and recommended for expulsion for fighting another student who had been bullying her for 2 years. While in the expulsion hearing, the school district agreed to take expulsion off the table and worked with the family in creating a safety plan for the student as a way to help prevent future bullying.
Submitted a detailed and comprehensive bullying complaint on behalf of a middle school student.
Worked with a school to create a comprehensive safety plan for a student who was being harassed at school.
Filed a complaint with the USDOE Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for racial discrimination by a school district which commenced an investigation for all claims.
Assisted a client in notifying the school about several bullying incidents and helped the client supplement the record with a statement that explains how a piece of the student's record was inaccurate.
Obtained settlement from urban school district to resolve Title VI racial discrimination claims brought by client.
Submitted a comprehensive bullying and harassment complaint for a middle school student who experienced racism from several other students. District took appropriate action and the student is now thriving.
For bullying and harassment litigation, click HERE.
Student Athletics Cases*
Successfully restored a high school soccer player’s full eligibility on appeal of an OHSAA ruling.
Restored a high school volleyball player’s spot on her team following alleged breach of the school’s Covid testing and isolation policy.
Restored eligibility for a high school basketball player with learning disabilities after his teacher issued an incorrect grade and the athletic director removed the player from his team.
Successfully assisted a student-athlete in securing full athletic eligibility on appeal before the OHSAA.
Helped a disabled high school golfer receive necessary accommodations for golf practice and matches.
Filed claim in federal court for high school basketball player cut from team in retaliation for complaints about poor treatment by the coach.
For student-athlete litigation, click HERE.
Miscellaneous k12 Student Rights Cases*
Two siblings were forced to change school buildings because they moved out of the attendance zone for the school building they had been attending. We worked with the district to extend the deadline to find a new residence in the same attendance zone, which gave the family enough time to avoid switching schools.
Obtained tuition refund from private elementary school for failure to provide contracted special needs accommodations.
Teacher was acting inappropriate with a 4th grade student. Helped the family in the Title 9 process with the school district, resulting in the teacher resigning.
Helped a family work with the school to address many course grades that were inaccurate. After the grades were corrected, the student was able to enroll in a private school better suited for his needs.
Assisted a private high school student in obtaining approval for early graduation after an initial denial.
Assisted parent in lifting 2-year ban from entering school property following a minor Covid-related policy violation, which allowed the parent to participate in their child's school activities.
Resolved state line residency dispute between family and school and secured enrollment for elementary students.
Assisted homeschooled kindergartener in entering into the public school system at the first-grade level after school originally denied parent’s request.
Assisted a client in viewing video footage from an incident on the bus after the school district initially refused access.
Helped the client ensure that a formal reprimand was placed in a school staff member’s personnel file after the staff member violated the student’s privacy rights.
Convinced school district to remove and destroy inaccurate and misleading special education records of a student.
Representative Litigation*
Our recent k12 litigation is extensive. For a list of representative cases filed in state and federal court, click HERE.
Childhood Sexual Assault Cases*
Obtained private settlement for special education student sexually assaulted on high school property by an older student.
These cases often result in litigation. For representative sexual assault litigation, click HERE.
Special Education Cases*
For an extensive list of recent special education cases, click HERE.
*The results shown are not necessarily indicative of the results that could be expected in any other matter, as the circumstances of each case are unique and involve multiple factors to consider along with possible outcomes.
OTHER SCHOOL REPRESENTATION CAN INCLUDE:
School pupil and staff technology use agreements;
Student speech under the 1st Amendment;
Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) issues (e.g. eligibility);
College students with disabilities (ADA and accommodations);
Administration of medication to students by school employees;
Review of athletic or field trip liability waivers;
School-related personal injury matters;
Home-schooled and charter-schooled student participation in public school extracurriculars;
Ohio Sunshine Law (Public Records Act and Open Meetings Act);
Public meeting and executive session compliance issues;
Federal and state court litigation;
Physical and psychological abuse by teachers or coaches.
FOR Special education SPECIFIC, Click Here.
QUICK RESOURCES:
Steps to Take if Your Child is Being Bullied (PDF)
Bullying and Harassment Reporting Form (PDF)
K-12 Students: 3 Things to Do if You Are Suspended or Expelled (2020)
School Law Publications (open in new window)
Public School e-Learning During COVID-19, College Liftoff Podcast (2020)
ICE and Homeland Security Directive on F1 and M1 Visa Holders (M. Weiker Video Comments, July, 2020)
School Dress Codes Must Balance Student Control with Constitutional Rights, OSBA Law You Can Use (2015)