Compensatory Education & Recovery Services: COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS FOR STUDENTS ON IEPs & 504 Plans On March 12, 2020, Governor DeWine ordered all of Ohio’s public, community and private K-12 school buildings to be closed due to the ongoing coronavirus health crisis. If a school district closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and did not…
Category: School Law
Updates on State Testing for Spring 2021: Ohio School Law
Does my child have to participate in spring testing? We can all agree that 2020 was a year like we have never experienced before. The educational institutions tried their best to accommodate the changing situation and help support students the best that they could. One of those ways was to forgo the traditional state testing…
Top 5: What parents NEED to talk about at the next IEP meeting!
AS THE SCHOOL YEAR MOVES ALONG AND “IEP SEASON” DRAWS NEAR, HERE ARE THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DISCUSS AT YOUR NEXT IEP MEETING (and yes, this blog was written in the wake of the COVID19 shutdown!)
Can I Leave Work to Attend an IEP Meeting?
FMLA LEAVE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS TO ATTEND IEP MEETINGS On August 8, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (“the DOL”) issued guidance on whether an employee may take protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) to attend a meeting to discuss the Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) of the employee’s son or daughter. U.S. Dept. of Labor, WHD, FMLA 2019-2-A(August 8,…
K-12 Students: 3 Things To Do If You (Or Your Child) Are Suspended or Expelled from School
Written by Mark Weiker, Esq. from Albeit Weiker, LLP; education law attorney focused on student rights & father of two. Unfortunately, it remains the norm for primary and secondary schools throughout the country to use suspension and expulsion as a remedy for bad behavior, despite almost no evidence that removing students from the educational environment…
A Teacher’s Guide to Beating First Week Jitters
It’s about that time of year again. The time when the specialty sections of Kroger and Target are stocked with rainbow bins, cartoon backpacks, and discount Crayolas. The time when you frantically fill your calendar with shopping trips, haircuts, and last minute summer fun. That’s right–it’s back to school season! The bittersweet ending of summer…
Talking to Children About Terrorism
Written by Danielle Randolph, School Psychologist & AW’s newest Student Advocate In today’s world, parents are faced with the challenge of explaining violence, terrorism and war to children. Although difficult, these conversations are extremely important. They give parents an opportunity to help their children feel more secure and understand the world in which they live….
Beating Summer Scaries (For You, Teacher)
The pace of summer is a delightful break from the frantic, absurd pace we are expected to keep during the other 10 months of the year. It’s a time to refocus, relax, and just BREATHE. Our summers are, simply put, crucial. If you’re anything like me, gearing back up to school can be the scariest…
All (Kids) Hail the Queen
Written by attorney Morgan Masters from Albeit Weiker, LLP; former prosecutor, now student defense attorney, but most importantly, a mother of two. Smartphones, tablets, and computers are awesome resources for kids. They can provide healthy entertainment, useful learning software, and effective tools for independence. Of course, we all know that these devices can open children’s eyes to…
E+R=O: A Special Education Mindset
E + R = O: A Special Education Mindset Fighting for an individualized and appropriate education Let’s imagine you are not receiving progress reports on your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP). You have that parental instinct that something isn’t right. How do you stand up to district administrators, who are specifically trained in the field…
Accused of College Misconduct? Here are 5 Tips from a Lawyer
Are you a college student facing an accusation from your school’s Academic Misconduct or Code of Conduct office? Here are 5 tips from attorneys who have seen real-life success. Find a Trusted Support Person (or a few) There are several reasons you should immediately find support when you are facing an allegation of cheating, nonconsensual…
Applying for Grad School? What you need to disclose.
When applying to graduate programs, especially law school, many applications require that all applicants disclose any criminal or academic misconduct. But it can be tricky to know what you do and do not need to disclose. One simple answer is to read any disclosure questions carefully. While the disclosure questions can be lengthy, it is…