Schooling
At Maroto & Associates, we are actively involved in education rights. We represent students, parents, and teachers in matters relating to areas such as special education, home schooling, discrimination, student rights, and tenure. We purposely maintain no affiliations with any school district, local education board or active school superintendents.
Federal and State laws provide guidelines describing the responsibilities of school districts and classroom teachers towards your child, whether he or she has educational deficits or is gifted.
Elementary, Middle and High School Students and Teachers
The most common case associated with the public school system involves charges brought as grounds for suspension or expulsion of a student. Students need representation for hearings, or to understand their rights to disclosure of records, to due process, or concerning various sanctions, which may be imposed including attendance at alternative schools.
Other issues may concern the constitutional rights of public school students, including freedom of speech and association.
Special Education Students
Special needs students in elementary, middle school and high school settings have a variety of complex issues that arise regarding their eligibility for, and participation in special education classes. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) , 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq . has undergone recent revisions, governs these cases, as well as the Rehabilitation Act 29 U.S.C.A. §§ 794, which applies to some students with disabilities. The No Child Left Behind Act 20 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq. also is a primary new body of law, which may impact the student with special needs.
Home Schooling Students
Families home schooling for the first time often have questions about legal challenges or threats that they might face from local or state education authorities. Those who do seek an answer to these questions are often faced with a confusing array of laws, policies, and regulations that not only vary from state to state, but also between school districts, and school officials within the same state or district.
Specialized law firms experienced in state law and state courts generally represent school districts. A good counterbalance to such experienced local adversaries is a local firm with well-established relationships in the local business, political and judicial community. Maroto & Associates understands this balance and actively works with home schooling families to help insure their rights are protected.
Private School Students
Private school students may encounter concerns if they have a disability, or may have contract related issues regarding various aspects of their education experience, including disciplinary measures, curriculum or other educational benefits. Private schools also may be subject to other laws depending up their level of federal funding, such as statutes protecting students from discrimination in education.