Get free answers to your Education Law legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I am a professor at a university who caught multiple students cheating and reported it to my supervisor. One of the students was awarded a prestigious college scholarship. After reporting, my supervisor ordered me to stop pursuing the matter, but I refused. Consequently, I've been placed on... View More 
answered on Jun 13, 2025
To supplement what the prior attorney stated, the University likely has a handbook, policies and procedures that relate to due process rights you may have as a professor, and particularly if you're tenured. You've now been unpaid for 4 months. I would not delay any further in hiring an attorney.
I am in PA and my school has started to have teachers and other school staff stand in the bathrooms and hold the doors open and watch kids as they use the restroom as a way of stopping students from vaping. It is really uncomfortable to try to urinate while your math teacher is watching you, they... View More
answered on Dec 10, 2024
This response is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Students have certain privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. In schools, these rights are balanced against the... View More
My child was injured in school and initially refused care. Was told to sit down when the teacher was informed of a knocked out tooth, blood and pain. Only after numerous attempts of informing the teacher of the injury and pain was my child brought to the nurse who was on lunch break. My child then... View More
answered on Sep 13, 2024
A Pennsylvania attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. I hope your child is okay. The short answer to your question is that you may also have the right to bring an attorney. The matter may have been resolved at this point, but you could reach out to Pennsylvania... View More
I graduated in 06. Background checks for jobs keep returning to me saying they are claiming i didn't graduate. i have a copy of the diploma. when anyone calls the school they say i didn't graduate. It keeps getting harder and harder to advance my career as employers keep thinking i... View More
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answered on Jan 24, 2024
In Pennsylvania, if your high school is incorrectly informing background check agencies or potential employers that you did not graduate, despite you having a diploma, you may have grounds to take action. This misinformation could be considered a form of defamation or negligence, especially if it... View More
I want to bring my special needs daughter back home from a home in Lancaster due to concerns about her treatment. The court ordered her placement there, but I need guidance on how to get her back without a lawyer. What steps should I take?
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answered on Jun 11, 2025
Start by contacting your daughter’s assigned caseworker or social worker right away and putting your concerns in writing—describe exactly what treatment issues you’ve observed and ask for an “emergency review” of her placement.
Next, file a pro se motion in the same juvenile or... View More
I have submitted multiple requests to my child's school to audio record IEP meetings as permitted by their board policy because my work schedule prevents me from attending. Despite meeting the requirement of requesting five days in advance, the special education supervisor refuses, citing... View More
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answered on Jun 11, 2025
You’ve followed the district policy by requesting five days in advance, so the principal’s refusal conflicts with the written rules you’re owed. Put your request in writing one more time, citing the exact language in the board policy that grants you the right to record IEP meetings, and ask... View More
My 20-year-old autistic daughter, who has a history of seizures, is required to get a Tetanus Shot to attend an Adult Training Facility for disabled students in Pennsylvania. In the past, when she was under 18, we had a religious exemption for vaccine mandates. However, the facility director claims... View More
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answered on May 31, 2025
In Pennsylvania, adult training facilities are generally regulated under Chapter 2380, which governs Adult Training Facilities for individuals with disabilities. While religious exemptions for vaccines are commonly available for K-12 students, the same rights may not always extend to adult... View More
I attend a high school where the administration has banned students from using the restrooms except during the changing of classes, which is allowed for only three minutes. This rule makes it nearly impossible to use the restroom without being late, and students have been threatened with losing... View More
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answered on May 15, 2025
It’s understandable that this bathroom restriction policy is creating challenges, especially when it directly affects your ability to focus and perform academically. While schools do have the authority to set rules, they also have a responsibility to ensure students’ basic needs, like access to... View More
I was accepted into a Massage Therapy college that was fully aware of my disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bipolar, and ADHD, discussed during my facility tour. After receiving my FAFSA and requiring my Master Promissory Note, they demanded a doctor's note for accommodations. I... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
What happened to you sounds not only unfair but deeply hurtful—being dismissed for simply asking for the tools you need to succeed is not something you should have to endure. If the college accepted you while knowing your disabilities, then refused reasonable accommodations like a laptop,... View More
I requested my math professor to change my grade to a withdrawal ("W"), but she denied it without any specific reason. My academic advisor is involved, but I was informed that there is no clear rule allowing a professor to deny such a request after the deadline at my institution. How... View More
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answered on May 14, 2025
It’s frustrating to feel stuck when you’ve tried to follow the right steps and aren’t getting a clear explanation. If your school’s policy doesn’t explicitly give the professor the authority to deny a “W” after the deadline, that’s something worth pursuing further. Since your... View More
What is Title IX and how does it pertain to sports?
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This includes sports, meaning that schools and colleges must provide equal opportunities for both male and female athletes. It aims to ensure that both... View More
I need clarification on whether my 17-year-old son's three-day out-of-school suspension for roughhousing with a friend, who passed out, should be classified as assault or just roughhousing. There was no malicious intent, and the friend, along with his mother, has confirmed that my son did not... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
It sounds like the situation with your son’s suspension may be more related to roughhousing than assault, especially given that there was no malicious intent, and the friend does not wish to pursue any further action. Since the school’s code of conduct distinguishes between assault and... View More
I was in a dorm room when a noise complaint was made. Although there was no physical alcohol present, the room owners were breathalyzed. I was not breathalyzed, and after being asked if we were drinking and stating no, I was let go. Could I face any potential trouble for being in the room during... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
In this situation, it’s unlikely that you would face any trouble just for being present in the room during the noise complaint, especially if you weren’t breathalyzed and weren’t involved in any illegal activities. Since you were asked about alcohol consumption and stated that you... View More
I recently discovered a discrepancy between my university advisor's math and the university site regarding my GPA. According to my advisor, my GPA is lower than the 2.15 shown on the university site, which puts me below the required 2.25 for graduation. Based on the university site, I believed... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
If the discrepancy between the university’s site and your advisor’s information is hindering your graduation, you may have a few options to address the issue. Start by documenting everything, including screenshots of your GPA as shown on the university website and any communication with your... View More
My daughter, who received special education at school, was bullied by school staff for her reading skills. They called her a bad person in front of other children, which caused her emotional distress and made her reluctant to return to school. When she first started, the climate teacher pressured... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
If your daughter experienced bullying and emotional harm caused by school staff, it’s possible to explore legal action. Emotional distress claims often hinge on whether the actions were intentional or negligent and if they resulted in measurable harm. Since you have documented evidence such as... View More
I am a licensed teacher in Pennsylvania and use medical marijuana with a valid prescription. I'm applying for a position in a public school where I must submit a drug test for employment. Should I be concerned about the implications of my medical marijuana use on my employment prospects, given... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Navigating the intersection of medical marijuana use and employment, especially in educational settings, can be challenging due to varying state and federal regulations. In Pennsylvania, while medical marijuana is legal for therapeutic use, employers, including public schools, maintain the right to... View More
What can I do if my attorney, who I hired for my divorce after a 35-year marriage, has not filed anything to protect me and seems to have a conflict of interest with my husband's attorney? My husband was the breadwinner while I raised our four children, all of whom have special needs, and... View More
answered on Mar 16, 2025
I no longer do family law because invariably one or both parties (wrongly) accuse the lawyers of conflicts of interest. You are perhaps overacting but if you believe you have been wronged this way, discharge your lawyer and get a new one. You should have done this the first minute you concluded... View More
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answered on Aug 16, 2023
Private elementary and middle schools typically have more flexibility when it comes to enforcing dress codes compared to public schools. However, even in private schools, there are limits to what dress code policies can require. If a dress code policy unfairly targets male students' hair... View More
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answered on Aug 10, 2023
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) primarily applies to children with disabilities in the context of special education services in K-12 schools. If you are referring to a higher education institution and believe you were unfairly dropped, your situation may not fall directly... View More
My teacher put music questions on my test and it is a big test and we had never been taught music and no it was not in our civics book and the teacher admitted to never teaching music to us can she still put music questions on the test.
answered on Feb 27, 2023
This is more a question for your school administrator or school board than a legal question for a lawyer.
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