No matter the age of the student, they all are expected to abide by certain guidelines and rules while attending their particular school. In fact, at the beginning of each year, whether your child is entering first grade or you are starting your senior year of college, the school will provide you with a student handbook. This handbook outlines the rules and guidelines each student must follow and describes the procedures for how the school will handle allegations of violations. They also mandate exactly how the student is expected to perform in each of their classes and on what time frame they should move from year to year.
If you or your child has been accused of violating the rules or guidelines in the student handbook or is having difficulty progressing through their classes, Attorney Joseph D. Lento can help. Call today.
Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area
When you think of Utah, you think of old western movies, hiking, and epic skiing landscapes. The Provo-Orem metro area is in nearly central Utah, with a population of just over 671,000. There are several communities located within this metro area, including:
- Alpine
- American Fork
- Benjamin
- Birdseye
- Bluffdale
- Callao
- Cedar Fort
- Cedar Hills
- Draper
- Eagle Mountain
- Elberta
- Elk Ridge
- Eureka
- Fairfield
- Genoa
- Goshen
- Highland
- Juab
- Lake Shore
- Lehi
- Leland
- Levan
- Lindon
- Mapleton
- Mills
- Mona
- Nephi
- Orem
- Palmyra
- Partoun
- Payson
- Pleasant Grove
- Provo
- Rocky Ridge
- Salem
- Santaquin
- Saratoga Springs
- Spanish Fork
- Spring Lake
- Springdell
- Trout Creek
- Vineyard
- Vivian Park
- West Mountain
- Woodland Hills
Normally, attorneys are forced to work in one town or state, but Attorney Lento, as an academic attorney-advisor, can serve students and their families in any state or county throughout America. Because of this, Attorney Lento understands the real obstacles that may arise for students in the Provo-Orem metro area.
Provo-Orem Metro Area Student Concerns
Most challenges for students revolve around starting new friend groups, engaging in class discussions, and getting their homework done on time. But sometimes, the stressors go beyond the normal, especially when students are discovering who they are and trying to navigate their new responsibilities. When this happens, even a normally studious and easygoing student will find themselves overwhelmed and stressed out, potentially behaving in ways they may not have before.
Unfortunately, many schools fail to see student behavior as a cry for help. Instead, they view it as “laziness” or “inability.” Often, students are punished for these actions instead of being consulted and offered help. This kind of treatment just compounds their already overwhelming and stressful lives and can lead to further misconduct.
Working with academic attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento will ensure the school provides your child with the necessary tools they need to succeed. Instead of forcing your child to suffer through a punishment, Attorney Lento will negotiate with the school and help them understand what your child is going through.
Provo-Orem Metro Area Schools
As we explained above, all students face challenges throughout their educational careers.
There are a number of undergraduate and graduate programs in the Provo-Orem metro area that Attorney Lento can help students at, including:
- Brigham Young University
- Provo College
- Utah Valley University
Additionally, academic attorney-advisor Lento can also work with students who attend elementary and secondary public school in the Provo-Orem metro area districts, including:
- Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy
- Utah County Academy of Sciences
- Lincoln Academy
- Timpview High School
- Centennial Middle School
- Odyssey Charter School
- Regan Academy
- Mountainville Academy
- Skryidge High School
- Soldier Hollow Charter School
- Canyon Crest School
- Renaissance Academy
- Belmont School
- Noah Webster Academy
- Provo High School
- John Hancock Charter School
- Walden School of Liberal Arts
- Summit Academy High School
Attorney Lento is also able to help students in private schools, like:
- Ivy Hall Academy
- Arches Academy
- Kids Village
- Freedom Preparatory Academy
- Challenger School – Traverse Mountain
- American Heritage Schools
- Provo Canyon School
In addition to the more common programs described above, Attorney Lento can also help students in miscellaneous programs such as:
- AmeriTech College
- Utah College of Dental Hygiene
- Mountainland Technical College
- Phlebotomy Training Specialists
Disciplinary Defense in the Provo-Orem Metropolitan Area
Students get into trouble all the time in school. Usually, the instances of misconduct are relegated to playing pranks on their peers or their teachers or showing up to class late. When this happens, the school will notify the student's parents of the issue and impose a punishment on the student. But there are other times when the student's behavior is so egregious that the school has no choice but to organize a more formal hearing process.
The same is true for college students. For instance, if a Brigham Young University student brought a weapon to school and threatened their teacher with it, or if they had been consistently harassing another student, BYU would notify the student and conduct an investigation into the allegations. If they determine that there is enough of a basis for the allegations, they are supposed to employ a hearing with the Honor Code Office Advisory Committee, where the student is given a chance to defend themselves against these accusations.
During the conduct hearing, the student will have a chance to present witnesses and evidence to bolster their defense. Additionally, they will also be allowed to cross-examine the other side's witnesses and evidence to refute their argument. When the hearing is over and both sides have been heard fully, the hearing committee will convene privately to determine if the student is, in fact, responsible and what kind of punishment should be imposed.
The punishment is supposed to meet the severity of the misconduct. So, students who bring a whoopie cushion to class and place it on their peer's seat before the lesson starts should not be expelled from their school. Having academic attorney-advisor Lento on your side during these proceedings will ensure that your side of the story is fully heard.
Academic Progression Issues
Provo-Orem metro area schools also require their students to progress through their program or classes at a particular pace and with certain minimum grades. If a student is unable to pass their tests or submit their homework on time, their grades will fall, and the progression may slow. Because of this, they may find themselves sitting before a dismissal committee.
Sadly, when students are expelled from school and forced to get a GED, society does not think too kindly of them. In fact, many people still believe a GED is a lesser accomplishment than receiving a high school diploma. The reality is, though, that students who are dismissed must now choose to pursue a GED on their own, including creating a studying schedule for it, paying for the exam, and showing up to take it – meaning obtaining a GED is a much more impressive fete than simply showing up to class.
At Odyssey Charter School, in order to be promoted to the next grade, students must have a certain amount of passing grades and be able to perform specific skills or understand concepts well.
For example, a student in first or second grade cannot have more than a few 1s and 2s on their report card or receive “needs improvement” in social-emotional development, or they will be held back. For students in grades four and up, they must successfully pass all their core subjects each year. If they fail any of the three core subjects in one year, they will be dismissed from the school.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Students around the country usually must follow an academic integrity guideline that asks them to refrain from cheating, plagiarizing, or fabricating information on an exam, assignment, lab report, or paper.
At Provo High School, students are expected to refrain from academic misconduct, including:
- Cheating: copying work from another student; using materials on an exam or paper without permission; storing information in a calculator for a test; or passing other student's information during a test.
- Plagiarizing: quoting someone else's work or idea without giving them credit; or pretending someone else's work or ideas are your own on a paper, exam, or other assignments.
If a student is accused of academic misconduct and found responsible for it, Provo High School will sanction the behavior. Such punishments can include anything from a written citation or expulsion from extracurricular activities to suspension or dismissal from school altogether. Sometimes, though, a school will punish a student too harshly, given the nature of the misconduct. When this happens, Attorney Lento will be able to reach out to the school on the student's behalf and negotiate for a lesser punishment.
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
Other conduct issues that might befall a student include behavioral issues. Generally, when you receive the new student handbook, you are supposed to review it and sign the front page, acknowledging that you understand the guidelines imposed within it.
These guidelines are different depending on the school; for example, students at Provo College are asked to refrain from bullying and harassment, whether it is:
- Physical: shoving, kicking, pushing, poking, assaulting, or threatening to assault or damage someone's work area, personal property, or work product.
- Verbal/Written: insulting or ridiculing a person, either in writing or verbally, or attempting to exploit a person's intellectual or physical vulnerabilities.
- Nonverbal: aiming threatening gestures at another person or invading their personal space after being asked to move away.
- Cyberbullying: using electronic forms like the Internet, digital technologies, mobile phones, or social media to bully someone else.
However, at Karl G. Maeser Preparatory Academy, students can be punished for the following conduct:
- Frequent or willful disobedience or disruptive behavior.
- Willful destruction of school property.
- Possession, distributing, selling, or using alcoholic beverages, cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or tobacco.
- Behavior or threats that impose immediate and significant threats to the safety and welfare of other students or school personnel.
- Inappropriate use or possession of personal electronic devices.
- Possession of fireworks, matches, lighters, mace, or pepper spray.
- Possession or use of pornographic material on school property.
- Sexual, racial, ethnic, religious, or disability-related harassment.
- Inappropriate use of school electronic resources.
- Use of force or threatening use of force.
- Bringing a weapon to school or offering to sell it at school.
- Failing a school-ordered drug test.
- Gang participation.
- Bullying, cyberbullying, or hazing other students or school staff.
If a Maeser student violates these policies and is accused of one of the above conduct issues, they will be investigated by the school administrators. Once the school administrators have enough of a basis to prove that the student did commit a conduct violation, they can require the student to participate in a formal hearing.
During the hearing, as we explained above, the student will have a chance to defend themselves by presenting an argument, witnesses, and evidence on their behalf. The hearing committee will then determine, based on the evidence, if the student did commit the misconduct and what kind of punishment they should receive. At Maeser, the punishments will range from dismissal to suspension or probation.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
Title IX is a national regulation that requires schools that receive federal funding to follow specific steps when investigating gender-based discrimination allegations. Gender-based discrimination includes conduct such as sexual misconduct, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, and intimate partner or domestic violence.
Individuals who are accused of violating Title IX need to reach out to an academic attorney-advisor the moment they learn of the allegations. With Attorney Lento's help, you will be able to mitigate potentially harsh sanctions, like suspension or expulsion, which could disrupt more than just your time in class. For instance, if you are suspended or expelled, and you wish to pursue your education at a new school, you will be forced to explain the issue on every future application because these types of punishments are recorded on your transcripts.
Working with an attorney-advisor will ensure you receive the best possible outcome for your case.
How a Student Defense Academic Attorney-Advisor Can Help
Students face challenges every day, whether they are academic progression issues or behavioral ones. It is imperative they reach out to Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm the moment they learn of the issue to ensure not only that their due process rights are upheld but that they are able to preserve their dreams for the future. Attorney Lento is an experienced student defense attorney-advisor with an unparalleled understanding of the intricacies of student conduct hearings. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
