Education Law
Although this practice area involves legal matters common to most clients, it also includes areas that are peculiar to public entities in general and public schools in particular. The public and private educational institutions that we represent look to us for legal guidance on a variety of issues involving student discipline, religion, freedom of speech, civil rights, budget restrictions, parental rights, labor retentions and much more. We pay close attention to what our clients want from their school attorneys and work hard to add value to complex and often difficult situations.
Our experience
School District Governance
- Board policies
- Open meeting law requirements
- Public Accountability and Disclosure Act requirements
- Board member elections and caucuses
- Special elections for bond issues and voter override of statutory tax levy limitations
- Public contract bidding requirements
- Board member conflicts of interest
- Duties and obligations of board members and administrators
- Contractual matters
Employment Law and Labor Relations
- Negotiation and drafting of union contracts
- Litigation before the Commission of Industrial Relations on disputes over wages and other terms and conditions of employment
- Litigation involving discipline, termination, reassignment, and work rules
- Advice and assistance regarding the applicability of and compliance with the Family and Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and other federal and state laws regulating the employment relationship
- Litigation defense of discrimination charges before federal and state agencies and the courts, wage and hour compliance and audits, and Office of Civil Rights inquiries and investigations
- Compliance with and litigation defense of claims relating to discrimination in educational opportunities and athletics based on gender under Title IX
Employee/Student Discipline
- Due process hearings
- Teacher/administrator licensure complaints before the Professional Practices Commission
- Student discipline policies and requirements
- Student suspension and expulsions hearings
- Grievances and arbitrations under collective bargaining agreements
Constitutional Law
- Develop policies to address constitutional claims relating to religion in the schools
- Provide litigation defense of constitutional claims relating to religion in the schools
- Address First Amendment free speech rights of teachers and students
- Address constitutional issues affecting the inclusion and exclusion of curricula, access to school buildings by student groups and community organizations, Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues relating to teachers and students and due process requirements
- Develop drug and alcohol testing policies and protocols
Special Education
- Due process claims
- Educational placement and disciplinary action involving special needs students, IEP's
- Funding issues
- Delivery of services
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