Education law is an area that is constantly changing and shifting. There have been several changes in the last decade, particularly with special needs education law. When a change occurs in the law, several things must occur before that change is implemented. For example, the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized in 2004 and put into practice in 2006. Each state during that time has to make sure they are in compliance with the new laws. Then the Department of Education comes out with new regulations that everyone in the public schools follows. That is the general process of how education law is created, but what does this mean for you? Here is a guide to the basics of education law.
What is Education Law?
Education law focuses on the rights, standards and discipline that surrounds the public and private education system. There are several areas of education law that attorneys practice. These include:
- Student Rights
- School Safety
- Discrimination at School
- Teachers’ Rights
- Student Conduct and Discipline
- Education Options
- Special Education and Disabilities
- Curriculum Standards and Funding
- Tenure
What Do I Do if I Have a Legal Issue?
There are a wide variety of issues that may arise under education law. If you or your children have had rights violated by the educational system, you need to speak to an education law attorney. Look up a few experienced education law attorneys in your area and schedule a consultation. A consultation is a short meeting with the attorney to discuss your case and see how they would like to proceed. Write down questions that you would like to ask beforehand so that you do not forget them. A good attorney will listen patiently and provide suggestions on how to move forward.