Los Angeles Education Lawyer Blog

The phone rings at 10:30 on a Tuesday morning. It's your childs school. He/She is being suspended (or maybe even expelled). You have to come by for a conference and to pick your child up. For a one day suspension, the majority of parents will pick up their child, accept the school's version of events and keep them home the next day. What most parents don't realize is that a suspension becomes a permanent part of their childs record. Whether it's a suspension or expulsion, you and your child have rights - the right to review evidence, the right to challenge that evidence, the right to a formal hearing, and the right to an attorney. A negative record will effect your child's application for magnet schools, charter schools, and even college. The stakes are too important. When in doubt contact an attorney.

As we start a new school year in Los Angeles, many parents in LAUSD and other Los Angeles School Districts are not aware (and are not told) that their children have certain legal rights and protections at their school. Federal, state, and local laws protect your child's right to a proper education. For example:

1. Right to a Special Education Assessment - Under federal law, if you reques that your child be assessed for special education, the school has only 15 days to provide written notification that they will/ will not proceed with an assessment. Thereafter, they have 60 days to complete this initial assessment. If a parent does not agree with the school's decision they have a right to appeal.

The local public school must provide special education services to your child regardless of whether they attend that school or a private school in the area.

2. Right to a textbook for every academic class - State law (Chanda Smith and Williams decree) mandate that every student has a right to a textbook and to have a clean, safe, school environment.

3. Equal Rights/ Access - Federal law guarantees your child equal access to all school classes and services, regardless of gender, race, or national origin.

For a more detailed discussion of these rights, or any other questions you may have about your child's educational rights, contact the Law Offices of Frazee/ Laron for an experienced Education Law Attorney.

Philip Koch
Pasadena and San Fernando Valley Education Attorney