The Ohio EdChoice Scholarship Program (“EdChoice”) has expanded its eligibility for 2023-24 allowing more students to attend private schools in the state. EdChoice provides state-funded scholarships to k12 students who: (A more comprehensive list is available at the link below.) Applications for the 2023-24 school year opened on February 1, 2023 and will remain open…
Quick Tips for Spring Break-ing College Students: How to Avoid a Conduct Charge When You Return to Campus
One of the best times of the year: Your college spring break trip! One of the worst times of the year: Opening your inbox containing an email from your campus conduct office! It is inevitable that our office phones start ringing off the hook in late March and April with parents and college students calling…
What Can You do to Get the Most Out of Your Child’s IEP Meeting?
There is no denying that IEP meetings can be overwhelming and oftentimes, you go into them unprepared and leave feeling exhausted. However, this does not have to be the case. Below, I will list some tips that will help you get the most out of your child’s IEP meeting and ensure that you are able…
TRUANCY EXPLAINED
As parents of school-age children, we know that children need to attend school on a consistent basis to facilitate learning and thriving. There is also a legal component to a child’s school attendance of which parents should understand the process, procedure, and rules. The following will lay out and explain truancy and the rules surrounding…
Teachers, Administrators, and NON-RENEWAL
It’s the time of year when teachers and administrators with expiring contracts begin thinking about the possibility of a dreaded non-renewal. Generally, boards of education (“Boards”) may non-renew eligible contracts for any nondiscriminatory reason, except that the basis for teacher non-renewals must be clear and substantial, and administrator evaluations must, at least, be considered in…
Grade Appeals: 5 Tips for Appealing a Bad Grade
December can be an exciting time for a college student. Exams are over and you can breathe knowing that you are out of school for a few weeks. But for some students, this time can be particularly stressful for one reason…grades. If you are unhappy with an assignment grade, exam grade, or overall course…
Making the Most of Progress Reports for Special Education Students & Families
It’s that time of year again…the end of the grading period. As many of us know, having lived through it, students receive report cards with their grades at the end of each marking period (typically at the end of each quarter of the school year). At the same time, special education students will be receiving…
What happens if my child is suspended (or expelled)?!
Appealing a school suspension or expulsion in Ohio: What parents should know about the laws on K-12 school discipline There are a few certainties in life. Death and taxes, of course. But equally as certain is the fact that our children will make mistakes. Sometimes those mistakes are made in school, where the consequences might…
Parents: Three Steps to Take to Minimize the Impact of the Columbus City Schools Labor Strike on Your Children
Parents: Three Steps to Take to Minimize the Impact of the Columbus City Schools Labor Strike on Your Children On Sunday, August 21, 2022, the members of the Columbus Education Association (“CEA”) voted overwhelmingly to go on strike, the first in the district since 1975. Classes are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 24. The…
HELP! I need to call a lawyer.
5 Things You Need to Know Before Contacting an Attorney Understand Your Deadlines & Call as Soon as You Have Them If you only need to respond with your intent to appeal, do so as soon as possible to start the process. For K12 items, this can generally be done via email to your child’s…
“How Much Trouble Is My College Student In?”
College Code of Conduct Trouble: Explained
ESY (Extended School Year) Services Denied by School?
What do you do when the school district denies your child with a disability extended school year (ESY) services?