I often defend students who allegedly do wrong in school settings, trying to get rid of or minimize an expulsion recommendation or remove a suspension. When a dangerous object or knife is brought on a school campus, it is a serious offense. However, reasonable expulsion resolutions can often be reached
Charter schools are public schools, and can be wonderful alternatives to the typical public school. ANY California student can apply to attend any California charter, even if the school is outside their school district. Charters cannot discriminate in who they accept. So they can’t say, “no disabled students can come
Sometimes a university can make a student feel like their woes are invalid and not worth their time. But why? And what can a college student just trying to survive do about the indifference? Students ARE Just a Number [I am Number 35,123. What Number R U?] Most colleges have
Far too often I hear about students bullied at school with nothing done, despite a school being aware of the continuing trauma. It can become unbearable for a bullied student and their family. Bullying is heartbreaking and dangerous. What’s going on here?! Why is no one helping? School Staff Become
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
Some of the saddest school stories involve students who are bullying victims. This is bad enough alone, but sometimes the humiliation and constant abuse are not the worst thing that happens to a bullied student. Instead, sometimes schools punish the bullied student when they fight back, to try to stop
Parents of a public school student on a 504 Plan (essentially an accommodations plan for a qualified disabled student) sometimes find themselves facing a 504 manifestation meeting. This manifestation meeting can be imposed with little notice and usually happens when larger student discipline is looming (e.g. school expulsion). Just what
California is a diverse state, with many different cultures, nationalities and languages. But what if parents do not speak English? How are they to read a report card or understand what is happening in an expulsion hearing? There are many triggers which mandate translations be provided by public schools, including
Bullying seems to be everywhere in schools. What if the bullied student or the bully are special needs students and it is impacting their education? Can the IEP (Individualized Education Program) team get involved to support the student? Yes! First, Report Bullying If student bullying is occurring, parents can report
Bullying is poisonous to schools and students. Sometimes school environments get so toxic, a bullying situation may not be able to be “fixed” or spreads throughout a school. If there is a long term student bullying problem, the bullied student’s safety is the number one priority. If parents can’t handle
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