The Boston Globe reported that one in four students in Massachusetts schools are victims of bullying. A recent study conducted in middle schools and high schools across Massachusetts found a link between bullying and violence in the home. The study … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: School Discipline for Students Not Yet Eligible for Special Education
When a regular education student violates the school handbook, the school can discipline that student according to the policies and procedures set forth in the handbook. When the discipline involves a special education student, however, the IDEA requires the school … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: A Parent’s Guide to Hiring a Special Education Attorney
The Special Education process can be frustrating, time-consuming, and upsetting to many parents. When parents feel that they can no longer face the school district on their own, many choose to hire a Special Education attorney to help them. This … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: A Summary of Massachusetts Special Education Statistics at the BSEA
The Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) released its Special Education statistics for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011). A summary of the statistics is as follows:
- The BSEA received 8,348 rejected IEPs, an increase of
The Schoolyard Lawyer: New Guidelines for Pediatricians Diagnosing Children with ADHD
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released new guidelines for diagnosing and treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Instead of diagnosing the condition in children aged 6 – 12, as previously required, the new guidelines require pediatricians to diagnose children … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: Recent Special Education Statistics in Massachusetts
In the 1980’s, doctors could only save 1 in 10 babies born weighing 2 pounds or less. Today, doctors can save 9 in 10 babies.
- 25% of babies born at 25 weeks or fewer may be severely disabled.
- 50% will
The Schoolyard Lawyer: Standard of Proof in School Suspension/Expulsion Hearings
When a student is suspended or expelled from school, there are certain procedures that the school must follow in order to protect the student’s due process rights. The student will be allowed to have a suspension/expulsion hearing (in most circumstances) … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: An App Meant to Prevent Bullying
Cyber-bullying not only happens on the internet through social media websites or chat rooms, but it also happens through cell phones, either in the form of text messages or phone calls. There is now an App meant to protect children … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: School Discipline and Special Education Students
If any student violates the school handbook, the school can suspend that student accordingly. However, when a Special Education student on an IEP gets into trouble and is suspended from school, there are procedures in place that the school must … Read more »
The Schoolyard Lawyer: Who has Access to Student Records?
Many parents wonder who can access their child’s school records. This is regulated by both federal law and state law. Under federal law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulates all issues regarding student records. Under state law, … Read more »
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