On November 4, 2014 Attorney Lillian Wong will be one of the featured presenters at the Know Your Rights! Program’s education session.
Know Your Rights! Program
Disciplining Students with Behavior Issues
Attorney Wong is pleased to announce that she will be speaking a NBI Continuing Legal Education Seminar called Disciplining Students with Behavior Issues on June 3, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts. The all-day, live event will provide a comprehensive legal overview of the complex legal issues involved with school discipline of students with disabilities and behavior challenges.
Office of Civil Rights Issues New Guidance on Access to Extracurricular Athletics
In June 2010, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report that found that students with disabilities were not being afforded an equal opportunity to participate in extracurricular athletics in public elementary and secondary schools. The GAO emphasized that participation in extracurricular athletics provides important health and social benefits to all student, particularly those with disabilities. You can read the entire report here.
Q&A: Can the School Require Me to Chaperone My Child on Field Trips?
How To Choose a Special Education Lawyer - Part 3
By the time you decide to hire a special education attorney, the stakes are high. You are frustrated with the school and worried about your child. Not only can retaining the wrong lawyer waste your time and money, it can permanently damage your child's education. So how do you choose the right law firm? Start by assessing these nine requirements. If you haven't already, read Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series first.
Can The School Require Me To Waive Liability?
Can a public school require you to release them from any liability in order for your child to attend school? Probably not.
First, courts do not enforce contracts that waive gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional conduct.
Second, while Massachusetts courts have never ruled directly on this issue, they have hinted that it is against public policy to require a wavier of negligence in order for a child to attend public school.
Third, there is some question whether a parent's signature can waive a minor child's right to sue, although the recent trend in the Massachusetts judiciary seems to allow parents to waive a minor's right to sue, at least for extracurricular activities.
The takeaway - read over those beginning of the year forms carefully. If you have any questions, contact the Boston area education law practice of Lillian E. Wong.
How Much Can the School Charge Me for Copies Of My Child's Educational Records?
Having a copy of your child's educational records is an important parental right, especially if you are in a dispute with the school. Educational records are broadly defined and can be thousands of pages. Read more about requesting educational records here.
How To Choose a Special Education Lawyer - Part 1
By the time you decide to hire a special education attorney, the stakes are high. You are frustrated with the school and worried about your child. Not only can retaining the wrong lawyer waste your time and money, it can permanently damage your child's education. So how do you choose the right law firm?
Massachusetts Parent Advisory Councils' Basic Rights Workshop Requirement
Massachusetts law (Chapter 71B: Section 1C) requires each school district to conduct, in cooperation with the local parent advisory council, at least one workshop annually within the school district on the rights of students and their parents and guardians under the special education laws of the commonwealth and the federal government and shall make written materials explaining such rights available upon request.
