Parents in the Austin, Texas, metropolitan area entrust local primary and secondary schools to educate their student children in their preparation to become intelligent, well-rounded members of society. Once they graduate from a K-12 institution, college, or other educational program, they're well on their way toward success. Like others throughout the U.S., the Austin metropolitan area's schools challenge students through academic rigors, character assessments, and experience-based assignments that sustain an institution's core values and mission to provide children with a worthy education.
Although students have a future filled with opportunities, the tests of life and difficulties teenagers may face can throw them off their academic journey toward graduation when the stress from coursework and extracurricular activities mount. Regrettably, school disciplinary boards aren't always forgiving. Even honest students of good character can land themselves in trouble with merciless administration officials.
When a school seeks to discipline their student child unfairly, parents must recognize that they can retain professional assistance to ensure their child's path to success. Experienced student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento has paramount expertise in upholding the rights of young students against burdensome disciplinary boards that work merely to protect the institution's reputation. He and his team at the Lento Law Firm recognize the nuances any discipline defense strategy needs and have the highest empathy for conscientious students vulnerable to alleged misconduct.
Make the first move to defend your child by contacting student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento today. Don't allow unfair and unwarranted allegations to destroy an education into which you have invested everything for your child.
Austin Metropolitan Area
As one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the country, the cities of Austin, Georgetown, and Round Rock stretch across the Texas counties of Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson. While the capital region and cultural hub of the "Lone Star" state may attract influential attorneys debating big cases in criminal courts, few lawyers have demonstrated the finesse required to broker beneficial resolutions with a school's Office of General Counsel (OGC) in support of their student client.
Student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento is no stranger to the Austin metropolitan area and its suburbs, including:
- Cedar Park
- Gilbert
- Hutto
- Kyle
- Leander
- Pflugerville
- San Marcos
You can trust that he and his team at the Lento Law Firm are effective advocates for you or your child's defense. Whether your elementary school son or daughter faces suspension or your college student child is disciplined for progression issues, Joseph D. Lento can help you.
Austin Metropolitan Area Student Concerns
Students attending one of the hundreds of schools and educational programs dotting the Austin metropolitan area face unique circumstances. Teenagers and young adults are presented with trials tailored to their academic performance, relationships with classmates, and gaining the trust of teachers and school personnel. Yet, they also face unforeseen obstacles.
Teachers, coaches, or other school staff members may expect changing criteria—academic, behavioral, cultural, or otherwise—that leave students without a solid foundation to comprehend how to remain in good standing. Additionally, there are numerous supplementary guidelines corresponding to the federal funding streams schools receive, many of which are buried deep in complex legal jargon. Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team know how to address these concerns of Austin metropolitan students so they're guarded against exploitation.
Austin Metropolitan Area Schools
Regardless of your school's grade, program level, degree concentration, or location in the Austin metropolitan area, premier student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm are available. For instance, dependable representation is provided for students at the following Austin metropolitan colleges and universities:
- Southwestern University
- Temple College
- Texas State University system
- University of Texas system
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team are also available to provide winning discipline defense to students in graduate, professional, religious, technical, military, and specialty programs across the Austin metropolitan area, including:
- Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
- Concordia University
- Gemini School of Visual Arts
- Huston–Tillotson University
- National American University at Austin
- St. Edward's University
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team are available to effectively represent students in K-12 programs in public school districts—called independent school districts (ISD)—across the Austin metropolitan area, including:
- Austin ISD
- Bastrop ISD
- Del Valle ISD
- Eanes ISD
- Georgetown ISD
- Hays Consolidated ISD
- Lake Travis ISD
- Leander ISD
- Pflugerville ISD
- Round Rock ISD
- San Marcos Consolidated ISD
Students in private elementary and secondary schools across the Austin metropolitan area can also retain the help of student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team at the Lento Law Firm, including those attending:
- Brentwood Christian School
- Hill Country Christian School
- Hyde Park Baptist School
- Redeemer Lutheran School
- Regents School
- Round Rock Christian Academy
- Summit Christian Academy
- St. Andrew's Episcopal School
- St. Michael's Academy
Disciplinary Defense in the Austin Metropolitan Area
School districts throughout the Austin metropolitan area may vary in how they categorize misconduct. Typically, there are three significant types described in a school's code of conduct, honor code, or student handbook:
- Academic misconduct
- Non-academic misconduct
- Title IX and sexual misconduct
As the social climate fluctuates with changes in cultural demography, schools are under enormous pressure to maintain a pristine public reputation. Due to this, institutions will address instances of alleged misconduct harshly.
Whether your student child is subjugated by allegations of bullying, cheating, or failure to achieve minimum academic progression requirements, any alleged misconduct can harm their future prospects. As a parent, you may not be versed in the myriad of ways a school can sanction rule-breaking. Still, you can trust that Lento and his team have the wherewithal to defend you or your child under any circumstances, including those in the following areas.
Academic Progression Issues
To remain enrolled and out of risk of disciplinary action, schools expect students to obey academic guidelines aligned with state education board standards. Similarly, institutions of higher education have federal obligations tied to financial aid, which require students to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP), attempt a certain number of credit hours, and graduate within 150 percent of the allotted time for a degree.
For example, Texas State University has minimum thresholds for cumulative grade point average (GPA), maximum credit hours attempted, and pace of progress toward graduation. There are also mandatory graduation requirements for Hill Country Christian School and other primary and secondary schools.
Students that fail to meet diploma or degree requirements risk probation, suspension, and even expulsion. However, schools occasionally misapply their own policies and neglect a student's individual situations. Appealing academic discipline is possible at any school, but students don't have the knowledge or argumentative prowess needed to effectively negotiate with a school's dean, principal, or student advisory office.
You may believe you're at a loss when the school informs you that your student child risks academic demise, but there are ways to better your circumstances. Joseph D. Lento can explain how a school applies its academic progression policies and coach you to provide a coherent, cohesive argument to defend yourself or provide representation to defeat academic sanctions.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Academic integrity is a keystone of any school or educational program. St. Edward's University, the Georgetown ISD, Temple College, and all other schools in the Austin metropolitan area have codes of conduct prohibiting fraudulent academic behavior. These include but are not limited to:
- Cheating
- Computer Misuse
- Falsifying assignments
- Plagiarism
- Unauthorized collaboration
Dishonesty in academia undermines the goal of instruction for students and their quality of education. From primary schools to graduate colleges, institutions rightfully penalize those who subvert school policy. Yet, sometimes disciplinary boards act quickly on questionable or partial information about a situation.
Students responsible for academic misconduct confront a major obstacle that will stand in their way in rehabilitating their reputation and future. Disciplinary action will remain on a student's record throughout their academic careers. Unfortunately, many colleges and universities don't tolerate less-than-perfect applicants. Therefore, act promptly to ensure your student child's record is kept clean by consulting Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm and defeat false and unfair academic misconduct charges.
Non-Academic Misconduct Issues
School officials are tasked with maintaining a safe and orderly social environment as part of the education process. While violent acts, drug use, and the destruction of property will likely lead to suspension or expulsion, anything that disrupts the learning atmosphere will reap corrective action.
For example, the University of Texas at Arlington has policies prohibiting certain items and behaviors in all dormitories and campus buildings. Students may be charged with misconduct if they engage in:
- Altering room architecture or looks
- Having pets in dormitories
- Noise violations during quiet hours
- Operating a business on college property
- Parking in unauthorized areas
- Removing college furniture
- Smoking or vaping
- Violating university guest policies
Students can be reprimanded at any level of education for unwarranted disruptions. However, school administration officials may misidentify students or mischaracterize them to fit alleged misconduct. Even when students participate in unconventional behavior, they may have a logical excuse to mitigate the need to engage in formal grievance proceedings and subsequent punishment.
Behavioral or other non-academic misconduct charges can ruin a student's reputation and close doors to further education and careers. Employers often consult a student's college records when screening them for a position and consider them a characterization of a job candidate. To avoid these long-lasting consequences, retain premier student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento to defend and defeat unfair and unfounded misconduct charges.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
Federal Title IX regulations require schools receiving federal funding to closely regulate and manage sex and gender-based discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. Every school, from elementary to doctoral programs, will have a Title IX coordinator that oversees the grievance process and its investigative, hearing, and sanctioning stages.
According to Texas State University's Title IX policy, the following are also violations:
- Coercion
- Dating violence
- Domestic violence
- Retaliation
- Sexual assault and harassment
- Stalking
- Solicitation
K-12 schools have Title IX regulations, as well. They are similar to those governing the process at colleges and universities, but the process differs slightly. For example, the Lake Travis ISD, like all primary and secondary schools, has optional live hearings, and parents or guardians of the parties are involved in the process.
Parents privy to proceedings may be glad they can walk through the trails with their children but have doubts about the help they can give them. Luckily, Joseph D. Lento and the student defense team at the Lento Law Firm know how to proceed in the Title IX process and will leave any parent with the confidence that their child's future is in safe hands.
Student Defense Advisor Value Proposition
It's common for inexperienced attorneys to begin their defense of a student in school disciplinary proceedings by threatening expensive lawsuits against the institution. Although a formal suit is a possible course of action to keep your student child intact with their studies, litigation is rarely a necessary tactic. Besides, adjudicatory strategies and courtroom competency don't often translate into the prudence needed to negotiate with school administration officials for a more positive outcome for the student.
The end goal for students and their supportive parents is prompt, private, negotiated relief from unfair disciplinary action, not intricate legal proceedings that go on for months or even years. Misconduct allegations can emerge suddenly, so get the help you need to protect your child's future.
Joseph D. Lento has dealt with a school's OGC on behalf of the student and resolved issues outside formal hearings. Even if the school's procedures don't allow professional assistance to be present during the grievance process, he and the Lento Law Firm can endow you with the knowledge and techniques to defend your student child against severe punishments.
When you retain student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento, you're equipped with the best available school discipline representation. Call 888-535-3686 today or visit the confidential online consultation form.
