In PR (public relations), one old adage is “know your audience.” Just WHO are you trying to sell something to or convince? With students facing expulsion, the people they need to sell their innocence to are the school expulsion panel members. Unfortunately, membership is exclusive and controlled by the entity
Terminology in schools can be very confusing. Schools always presume parents know what terms like “504” and “Section 504” mean, when most don’t. Why would we? What is the definition of “504” and what is “Section 504?” Why is knowing about Section 504 critical for some disabled students? Let’s clear
Parents often wonder who has to attend a student IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting. Can a parent make a certain teacher, psychologist, or other school staff member attend an IEP meeting? Maybe, but generally, not so much. Okay, so how can parents get certain school staff to a student’s IEP?
When a student in elementary, middle or high school faces removal from their school and school district (aka a school expulsion), they need to know their enemies. One of these enemies could be a group the family least expects: the school expulsion hearing panel. What is a School Expulsion Hearing
The California Interscholastic Federation, aka CIF, is a tough organization with confusing rules harshly imposed on unsuspecting high school athletes. Insight is important for parents approaching CIF and their mysterious state appeals office. So, what happens at a CIF State Appeal Hearing, if a student is fortunate enough to have
California charter schools are unique. Some laws that apply in typical public schools don’t apply to charter schools. One example includes the California laws on student expulsions. Charter schools have different minimum standards to expel a student, which parents of charter school students should be aware of. Charter School Mandates
When a student is facing a public school expulsion, the process is quick, intense and confusing. Suddenly a calm school life turns into a fast paced nightmare. Often schools push parents to sign a “stipulated expulsion” quickly to avoid the hassle of a hearing. What is a stipulated expulsion and
Gaslighting is bad, and especially bad when it involves kids and students. Unfortunately, gaslighting is incredibly common in student discipline and school investigations. Gaslighting in Student Discipline Here are some examples of gaslighting I have seen in California schools involving student discipline. A student who is communicating serious threats, diverts
Title IX (9), a federal civil rights law to prevent sexual harassment, is now being grappled with in K-12 schools. However, it is being inconsistently applied. Some schools suspend and expel a student and never pursue a Title IX investigation. Others pursue a Title IX investigation and emergency removal. Some
If a California student needs to breastfeed or pump breast milk on a public school campus, the student has a right to a private space, to possess breastfeeding items, to make up work missed while breastfeeding, and to other reasonable accommodations. Right to a Private Room to Breastfeed or Pump
Gaslighting when dealing with student bullying, records and grading occurs far too frequently in schools. Parents and students need to be able to recognize it when it occurs. Gaslighting Regarding Bullying When bullying is occurring, gaslighting by schools can definitely happen, for example: Staff deny student bullying has been ongoing
Have you ever felt gaslighted by a school? You know, the school staff say one thing, but deny it later? Or, they flat lie about something? Unfortunately, this sort of deceptive conduct, to make parents feel like they are the ones who are confused (aka gaslighting), is not uncommon in
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