Alabama Middle and Elementary Education Issues
As a parent, you want your child to succeed in school so they can succeed in life. Education provides not only key skills your child will need to get a good job and thrive, but it also provides important social benefits, as well as improved self-esteem and confidence.
Younger children, such as middle and elementary students, are typically more susceptible to learning. However, they are also more susceptible to making mistakes or errors in judgment. Furthermore, they are also more likely to suffer emotionally and psychologically when they do make mistakes, and they could develop behavioral issues that will haunt them for the rest of the time they are in school.
The struggles your child faces now could extend into their adult lives and cause serious problems if not addressed promptly and properly. Therefore, it's vital you get help if your child faces disciplinary actions from their school because of their behavior or lack of academic progress.
If your child's school has accused them of academic wrongdoing or violating rules of conduct, you need to take the matter seriously and contact an experienced Student Defense Team or an Education Law Team for help in addressing the disciplinary actions and helping you get a favorable outcome.
Academic Misconduct Charges in Alabama Middle and Elementary Schools
The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE) requires all schools in the state—including elementary and middle schools—to create and enforce rules of conduct for their students. These rules apply to all levels of school, which means even very young children can get into trouble for a variety of academic issues and behavioral misconduct.
Every school district in Alabama must have its own written policies regarding student academics and behaviors and describe student rules of conduct as well as the consequences of violating any policies or rules. This includes rules for academic misconduct.
Jefferson County Schools places cheating and plagiarism as a Level II Intermediate Offense. For grades K-5, the district requires an in-school parental conference, and the student may have to serve detention or even a one-day suspension. The district also allows for corporal punishment in accordance with school board policy. For grades 6-12, an in-school conference may be required, and a student may receive detention or a one-day school suspension—in-school detention can range from up to six hours to up to three days.
Alabama Middle and Elementary School Behavioral Misconduct Charges
Along with academic issues, students can get in trouble for misbehaving and violating their school's rules of conduct regarding student behavior. Many school districts in Alabama, such as Birmingham City Schools, classify behavioral misconduct into three categories:
Class I – Minor Offenses: These include things like harassing or intimidating other students, causing classroom distractions or disruptions, using a cell phone, tardiness, violating the dress code, and similar low-level offenses that may not require administrative intervention.
Consequences of Class I violations can include parent contact and conference, school restriction, or after-school detention. Repeated violations could escalate the violation to a Class II offense.
Class II – Intermediate Offenses: These include possessing tobacco products, offensive touching, sexual harassment, fighting, petty theft, bullying, and using profane language. It also includes repeated violations of Class I offenses, such as cell phone use and dress code violations.
Consequences can range from in-school parent conferences to in-school detention to out-of-school suspension. Students may also be required to attend a mentoring program, or they could be moved to an alternative classroom.
Class III – Major Offenses: These include serious wrongdoing, which can include criminal activity. Drug and alcohol possession, assault and battery, arson, and weapons possession all fall under Class III offenses. Other offenses include making bomb threats, possessing pornography, gang affiliation, and improper use or sabotage of a school computer.
Students may receive a short-term suspension from school or expulsion, depending on the circumstances.
Alabama Middle and Elementary School Disability Issues
All schools in Alabama must comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Schools must provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) and develop and maintain an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for students with disabilities.
Students with disabilities often face considerable challenges in succeeding academically. Schools must acknowledge this and provide appropriate accommodations to aid in the students learning. Accommodations could include reading-assist devices, note-taking aids, modified class schedules, and assistive services. Also, students with certain disabilities may exhibit inappropriate behavior.
If a student with disabilities faces disciplinary action from the school for a behavioral issue, federal law mandates the school conduct a manifestation determination as part of the adjudication process.
In fact, all schools in Alabama must afford proper due process to any students accused of serious academic and behavioral violations of the student code. Students must be informed of the charges against them and given an opportunity to present a defense.
Alabama Education Attorney Services
The Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm is a group of highly competent, qualified, and experienced student attorneys. We can help your child as they face disciplinary actions from their school and advocate on their behalf to increase their chances of getting a successful outcome.
We can evaluate the charges and inform you of your child's legal rights. We can also present any mitigating or exonerating evidence to support your child's innocence—as well as assert the appropriate federal and state laws to ensure your child gets a fair hearing and appropriate due process. What's more, we can also help appeal any decisions against your child through the appropriate channels.
We Represent Students in Schools All Over Alabama
The Lento Law Firm's skilled and experienced Student Defense Team represents and defends elementary and middle school students throughout Alabama and across the United States. They can represent your Alabama elementary or middle school student at any location in the state, including (but not limited to):
- Alabaster City Schools
- Madison County Schools
- Huntsville City Schools
- Hoover City Schools
- Auburn City Schools
- Birmingham City Schools
- Decatur City Schools
- Bullock County Schools
- Calhoun County Schools
- Gulf Shores City Schools
We serve students in larger metropolitan areas, such as Bellingrath Middle School and Fitzpatrick Elementary School in Montgomery—as well as those in smaller municipalities, such as Weeden Elementary and Wilson Junior High in Florence.
Premier Alabama Education Attorneys
Regardless of where you live or where your child attends elementary or middle school in Alabama, you can retain the Lento Law Firm's premier Education Law Team for help with the disciplinary issues they are facing. The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has helped clients nationwide for years. Their experience sets them apart from the rest. You can trust them to work diligently to protect your child's rights and help safeguard their education and future. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for skilled and experienced attorney defense in Alabama.
