Contact
Renee Stromski, Esq.
renee@education-rights.com
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RENEE STROMSKI, ESQ.
Renee practices statewide in Ohio and focuses her practice on special education law and disability rights. Renee also leads the law firm’s Internship Program.
A native of Syracuse, NY, Renee received her undergraduate degree from Nazareth College in Rochester before continuing on to earn her graduate degree from the Greater Rochester Collaborative Master of Social Work Program through Nazareth College and SUNY Brockport. While earning her master’s degree, Renee participated in the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program where she received interdisciplinary training focused on improving the health of infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities. It was her work in this program that inspired Renee to attend law school to enhance the power of her voice for students with disabilities.
During her time in law school at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Renee developed her legal and advocacy skills through internships with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, Cleveland-Marshall's Community Advocacy Clinic, the City of Lakewood Law Department, and Babinski Law, PLLC. Renee has received several awards for her commitment to public service, including for her successful petition to create an all-gender restroom space within her law school. Renee was the 2021 Post-Graduate Public Service Fellow with the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York. Since becoming an attorney, Renee completed the necessary training to earn a certificate issued by State Support Team Region 3, which allows her to serve as a surrogate parent for students with disabilities when the student’s parents are unable to do so.
In her spare time, Renee enjoys volunteering in the community with her certified therapy dog, Finley, as well as exploring all the amazing sights, activities, and food that Cleveland has to offer.
Education
Nazareth College of Rochester, B.A., 2016
Nazareth College and State University of New York at Brockport, M.S.W., 2018
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University, J.D., 2021; Magna Cum Laude
Bar Admission
Ohio, 2021
E.D. Mich, 2023
Affiliations
Ohio State Bar Association, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), Therapy Dogs International; Volunteer for the Ohio Special Education Legal Clinic; Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid (National Council for Mental Wellbeing)
Awards
Equal Justice Works Regional Public Interest Award for the Midwest Region; 2020
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Dean’s “Learn Law. Live Justice.” Award; 2021
Practice Areas
k12 School Law, Student Rights, Special Education
Recent Representative Cases*
Secured Section 504 special education services and a home instruction placement for a student with severe mental health difficulties and avoided expulsion through MDR.
After filing a state complaint, obtained a determination that a metropolitan school district inappropriately changed the placement of 10+ special needs students.
Successful obtained qualification for special education services for student with emotional disability after school repeatedly punished the student’s behavior rather than evaluate him for a disability.
Secured placement for special education student in general education classroom with full-time aide.
Avoided expulsion through a determination that the behavior in question was a manifestation of the student's disability, even prior to the district suspecting the student was a child with a disability.
Assisted homeschooled kindergartener in entering into the public school system at the first-grade level after school originally denied parent’s request.
Avoided expulsion for student incorrectly accused of making threatening statements toward other students.
Secured ETR and subsequent IEP for student with mental health concerns initially ignored by the school.
Obtained placement change to home instruction for student with severe physical health ailments.
Appealed disciplinary outcome to allow participation in end-of-year class field trip.
Released private school kindergartener from tuition contract following disability discrimination faced at school.
Successfully avoided expulsion for student who accidently caused another student to lose consciousness.
Convinced school district to remove and destroy inaccurate and misleading special education records of a student.
Avoided a change of placement to a more restrictive environment for a student with behavioral difficulties.
Obtained a determination that a student's behavior was a manifestation of his disability while the student was undergoing initial evaluations for special education services.
Successfully initiated intradistrict transfer for student whose needs were ignored by former elementary school.
Reduced the extent of discipline for a student with severe mental health difficulties initially expelled for offensive behavior at school.
Appealed and removed several inappropriate suspensions of first grade student undergoing special education evaluations.
Reached agreement with public school for significant compensatory education hours and reimbursement in attorney fees to parents.
Avoided expulsion for student through the adoption of an abeyance agreement after advocating that the behavior was a manifestation of the student’s disability.
Attained an alternative placement in lieu of suspension for first grader with emotional regulation difficulties.
Submitted a detailed and comprehensive bullying complaint on behalf of a middle school student.
Reached settlement with public school after a client with a mental health-related disability was disciplined, which resulted in securing immediate evaluations, re-conducting the student's manifestation determination review hearing and amending the student’s IEP and discipline record.
Negotiated agreement for a school to pay for aide services, transportation, and ESY, as well as for reimbursement to parents for prior expenses and attorney fees.
Negotiated monetary settlement for student who was inappropriately restrained by school employees more than once over the course of a full school year.
Reduced financial responsibility and obligations for private school tuition for student who withdrew after the contract had already been executed.
Successfully completed probate court minor settlement approval process for minor client to receive proceeds of a negotiated settlement.
Secured accommodations of daily check-ins and access to an identified support person for student with social-emotional needs.
Provided resources for transition planning to special education student entering high school.
Avoided expulsion for a HS student in possession of a vape pen at school through a manifestation determination review (MDR) hearing, with a finding that the school failured to properly implement the student's IEP and BIP prior to the disciplinary incident.
Secured a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) for student who had received a series of in-school suspensions following difficulties with emotional and behavior regulation.
*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.