All students are expected to follow certain standards when enrolled in school, no matter if they are college or elementary-aged. In fact, at the beginning of each year, students are given a student handbook that outlines all the rules they are supposed to follow. Additionally, the student handbook will describe the types of proceedings and punishments the students may be subject to if they violate those rules.
If your student is accused of violating the rules in the student handbook, hiring an attorney-advisor is the best way to ensure your child is defended sufficiently. Many times, schools fail to offer students their due process rights and end up unnecessarily punishing them for situations that can be explained away or defended. When this happens, your child's life can be irrevocably changed.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm have spent years helping students across the country who have found themselves in similar situations. Their experience and understanding of the particulars of these proceedings are unmatched. Call Lento Law Firm today for help in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metropolitan area (McAllen metro area).
McAllen Metropolitan Area
Texas is one of the largest states in America and is divided into several counties. The McAllen metro area consists of one such county – Hidalgo County – and is in the southernmost region of Texas. As the fifth largest metro area in Texas, it is home to more than 800,000 people and includes the following communities:
- Alamo
- Alton
- Donna
- Edcouch
- Edinburg
- Elsa
- Granjeno
- Hidalgo
- La Joya
- La Villa
- McAllen
- Mercedes
- Mission
- Palmhurst
- Palmview
- Peñitas
- Pharr
- Progreso
- Progreso Lakes
- San Juan
- Sullivan City
- Walesco
Normally, student defense attorney-advisors focus their practice in one particular area because it makes gaining clients and marketing themselves easier. But Attorney Lento believes students should have access to the experience of a seasoned attorney-advisor and as such, his practice is focused on helping students around the country. This nationwide experience has increased his skill and understanding of the complexities of these proceedings and allows him to create a truly unique and strong approach to the student's defense. When your child is in second grade or their junior year of college, Attorney Lento can help.
McAllen Metro Area Student Concerns
Students are not immune to challenges, no matter their age. Not only are they learning to navigate their new responsibilities and relationships with peers, teachers, and faculty, but they are also trying to figure out the steps to achieve their dreams for their future. Students in the McAllen metro area are also dealing with racial injustices, destructive weather patterns, food security, and language and cultural barriers. This added pressure can compel some students to behave in ways they normally wouldn't/ When this happens, schools rarely see these actions as cries for help. Instead, they punish quickly and succinctly and end up making the student's stressors grow tenfold.
For example, if a McAllen metro area student has to work to help pay bills but can only pick up early morning shifts because in the afternoons, they have to watch their siblings, and they are consistently late to class or falling asleep, they are more likely to be punished with detention or suspension than to be pulled aside and asked what help they might need to show up on time or stay awake.
An attorney-advisor will be able to work with the school and negotiate on your child's behalf – explaining the issues and guaranteeing the best possible outcome for their case.
McAllen Metro Area Schools
Lento Law Firm can provide student defense advice to any aged student, no matter if they go to public or private school.
Attorney Lento provides students with defense advice to students in the following undergraduate and graduate programs:
- Franklin University
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- South Texas College
Attorney Lento and Lento Law Firm can work with students who attend public school in the McAllen metro area districts, including:
- Sharyland Independent School District
- McAllen Independent School District
- Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District
- Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District
- Valley View Independent School District
- Hidalgo Independent School District
- Mission Consolidated Independent School District
- Midvalley Academy Charter School District
Attorney Lento is also open to helping students in private schools, including:
- Juan Diego Academy
- The Pharr Oratory of St. Philip Neri School System
- Harvest Christian Academy
- Macedonian Christian Academy
- Valley Christian Heritage School
- St. Matthew's Episcopal School
- Our Lady of Sorrows School
- Covenant Christian Academy
- St. John's Episcopal Day School
- Instituto Bilingue San Jose
- St. Joseph's Catholic School
- The Discovery School
- Mid Valley Christian School
- St. Paul Lutheran School
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School
- San Martin de Porres Catholic School
- Taylor Christian School
- Central Christian School
- Sanctuary Christian Academy
In addition to the traditional schools listed above, Attorney Lento can also help students in the following miscellaneous programs:
- Southern Texas Vocational Technical Institute
- Inter-Tech Technical School
- McAllen Careers Institute
- New Start School
- UCAS University of Cosmetology Arts & Sciences
- Vanguardia
Disciplinary Defense in the McAllen Metropolitan Area
As explained above, students get into trouble all the time in school. They might start talking back, arrive at class late, or maybe even start an argument with their classmates. When this happens, they'll usually have a note sent home, or maybe they'll even get after-school detention. But sometimes, the school will accuse them of larger disciplinary issues, and when that happens, it is important to present a strong defense at a hearing.
Oftentimes, the schools forget to notify parents of the issue and end up punishing the students without providing them with an opportunity to defend themselves. When this happens, students are subject to unfair proceedings and have no source of protection. If a child has been subjected to a hearing without you being notified, the school owes you an apology, and the punishment should be voiced. Attorney Lento can help navigate that issue and urge the school to provide your child with due process rights, as they should have initially.
Academic Progression Issues
Schools are keen to have students matriculate through their halls on a particular timeline; that way, the schools are less likely to become overcrowded, and their ratings stay positive. Sometimes, when a student is unable to pass their classes or progress in a timely manner, they are forced out of school. When a student is removed from the educational system, it can cause serious long-term consequences. In addition to not receiving a high school diploma, it will be up to the student to pursue a GED.
Though a GED and a high school diploma are no different, the onus of receiving a GED is all on the student. There is very little external support. And for students who already face obstacles on their path, having to pursue a GED without help will just exacerbate those obstacles.
For instance, in the Sharyland Independent School District, students must complete a certain amount of credits and demonstrate proficiency in specific communication skills that the State Board of Education has laid out. If they are unable to meet these requirements, they will be barred from graduation.
In addition to younger students, college-age students are also required to meet certain guidelines in order to progress through the program on an appropriate timeline. For example, at South Texas College, to receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, students must complete 120 credit hours in that major and maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA. If a student fails to achieve this, they will not be allowed to graduate until they do.
An attorney-advisor can help ease the fears that surround progression issues by working with your school to find alternatives to sanctions for your academic struggle.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Around the country, schools demand that students abide by academic integrity standards, which include avoiding any academic misconduct. Academic misconduct is usually defined as plagiarism, fabricating information, cheating, or helping others plagiarize, fabricate or cheat on an assignment, paper, lab report, or exam
At The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), students must abide by the academic integrity policy. If a student is found committing academic dishonesty, they will be disciplined. Examples of academic dishonesty include:
- Getting copies of an exam before the exam is to take place.
- Switching exams with someone sitting near you.
- Making up lab data.
- Using visual or auditory signals during a test.
- Making up references and using them in research.
- Making an answer sheet so that someone else can see your answers.
- Failing to turn in a test and then suggesting the teacher lost it.
- Stealing an exam for someone in another section or class.
- Collaborating on an exam or paper without permission.
- Writing in blue books before the exam.
- Submitting a paper written by someone else.
The sanctions imposed by the school are supposed to match the seriousness of the academic misconduct accused. So, if you are a middle schooler accused of cheating for the first time, you should not be facing expulsion. Unfortunately, though, some schools forget this, and students end up facing sanctions that are much harsher than the original alleged offense. A student defense attorney-advisor will work diligently to ensure your child is not arbitrarily punished without a fair hearing and due process.
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
When students receive a copy of their student handbook, the school expects parents and their children to review the information within. They usually even require parents to sign the handbook to show that they have at least familiarized themselves with it. There are times, though, when parents and students do not review the information and end up being blindsided when forced to face a disciplinary hearing. And because every school's code of conduct is different, it is very important for parents and students to not only review the code but provide a copy to their attorney-advisor for review.
At St. Paul Lutheran School, students are told to respect authority, accept the consequences for their actions, and avoid disrupting the school or classroom, endangering themselves or others. If a student violates this code of conduct by doing one of the following, they will be referred for disciplinary action:
- Bullying
- Damaging school or church property
- Violating the drug and alcohol policy
- Starting or engaging in fights on school grounds or during school-sponsored activities
- Violating the playground rules
- Engaging in public displays of affection
- Sexually harassing anyone – student, faculty, or staff
- Bringing a weapon or device that is intended to, or capable of, inflicting injury
When disciplinary action is imposed, the principal will decide whether the student is responsible for the accused behavior. If they determine that the student is responsible, they will then decide which sanction fits the issue best. Possible sanctions include verbal or written warnings, detention, parent conference, in-school suspension, social suspension, off-campus suspension, blocked enrollment, and expulsion.
The only time a formal hearing is required is when the student is facing expulsion. Then, the student and their guardian will be asked to present their defense at an impartial hearing before members of the School Board, who will decide if the student is responsible or not. Whatever their decision, it is final and effective immediately.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
Title IX is a federal regulation in the United States that obliges federally funded schools to follow certain procedures when examining and resolving allegations of gender-based discrimination. Gender-based discrimination goes beyond segregating female athletes from male athletes. It also includes include sexual misconduct, which is defined as rape, sexual assault, stalking, harassment, intimate partner violence, and domestic violence.
If you or your child has been accused of a Title IX violation, they will need to present strong evidence and witness testimony to best advocate for themselves. If they are unable to, they will be subjected to superfluous punishments.
How a Discipline Defense Attorney Can Help
Students who are suspended or expelled for their alleged behavior will have to explain those punishments on every future application because the punishment is noted on their final transcript. This can make getting into a new school difficult.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm can help navigate these complex proceedings and ensure you have every chance to present your side of the story. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online. Lento Law Firm can help.
