Education is a civil right. Still, students in primary levels through graduate programming are expected, as part of their admission to and good standing in their academic institution, to perform and behave according to standards set forth by their schools.
At times their experience may require support and guidance beyond what their support network or family can reasonably provide. There are instances in which professional legal guidance from an attorney advisor may lessen the stress brought on by these situations and expedite a resolution, helping the student recover and move forward in good standing with their school.
Most students want to be pushed in their academic experience – to face rigor, depth, and high expectations, helping them strive for levels of critical thinking, intellectual sophistication, and performance perhaps not otherwise expected of them.
Yet the demands placed on students must be reasonable and nimble in their adaptability to a student's changing life experiences. Especially in these unprecedented and unpredictable times, schools must not be so rigid as to extinguish a student's promise and potential if life circumstances make meeting academic challenges temporarily untenable.
Students who are facing the consequences for conduct or performance issues, including suspension or expulsion, and who believe they are being unfairly treated by their school should not give up hope. In these circumstances, it is prudent for a student, or a student's family, to consider seeking the services of a highly qualified education attorney-advisor. Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team are available to discuss what you or your student are facing and the recourse you may be able to take in response to a school's actions throughout the Springfield Metropolitan Area.
Academic Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento has advised and defended students across the country, and he has deep familiarity practicing in the New England region, including Western Massachusetts. In Western Mass, the Lento Law Firm team specifically serves the Springfield Metropolitan Area, also known as Greater Springfield, spanning three counties – Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden.
You (or your student) have worked too hard to allow false or unfair allegations to derail your educational experience. Contact Education Attorney-Advisor Lento for winning guidance today.
Springfield Metro Area Student Concerns
Students attending schools in Greater Springfield face expectations around attendance, participation, grades, conduct, and their contribution to a positive school culture and climate similar to students across the country. Yet Western Mass has a special reputation for its turnout of high-performing students and high-achieving graduates. The Springfield Metro area, especially, being the largest city in western New England and part of the Connecticut River Valley, is known for its unique cultural contributions to the region. Its students have a special reputation to live up to; for Springfield's deep roots in innovation, it is known as "The City of Firsts." A reputation for excellence precedes students here – which can be as motivating as it can be stress-inducing and ultimately consequential.
Premier Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team know how to address the special concerns of Greater Springfield's students.
Greater Springfield Area Schools
Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento is available to provide guidance to students and their families at all levels of education and in all types of programming, from public or private K-12 institutions to community, technical, or military programs and to undergraduate and graduate university programs across the Springfield Metro Area.
For example, Attorney-Advisor Lento is available to support students at the following metro Springfield colleges and universities, to list just a few:
Hampshire County:
- Amherst College, Amherst
- Hampshire College, Amherst
- Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley
- Smith College, Northampton
- University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hampden County:
- American International College
- Bay Path University
- Elms College
- Holyoke Community College
- Springfield College
- Springfield Technical Community College
- Western New England University
- Western New England University School of Law
- Westfield State University
- Springfield Technical Community College
Attorney-Advisor Lento and his Education Law Team also serve students in private elementary and secondary schools across the Springfield metropolitan area, including, to list just a few:
Franklin County:
- Deerfield Academy
- Northfield Mount Hermon School
- Eaglebrook School
- The Academy at Charlemont
- The Bemet School
- Northfield Mount Hermon School
Hampden County:
- Wilbraham & Monson Academy
- St. Michaels Academy
- Pioneer Valley Christian Academy
- Lubavitcher Yeshiva Academy
- Pope Francis Preparatory School
- St. Joan Of Arc School
- St. John the Baptist School
Hampshire County:
- The MacDuffie School
- The Hartsbrook School
- Clarke Schools For Hearing and Speech
- Campus School of Smith College
- The Williston Northampton School
- Amherst Montessori School
Education Attorney-Advisor Lento and the Lento Law Firm team are also available to effectively represent students in kindergarten through grade twelve programs in public school districts throughout the Springfield metropolitan area, including, to list just a few:
Hampshire County:
- Amherst-Pelham Regional School District
- Northampton Public Schools
- Hadley Public Schools
- South Hadley Public Schools
- Belchertown Public Schools
- Hatfield Public Schools
- Easthampton Public Schools
Hampden County:
- Agawam Public Schools
- Chicopee Public Schools
- East Longmeadow Public Schools
- Gateway Regional School District (Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Russell and Worthington)
- Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District
- Holyoke Public Schools
- Longmeadow Public Schools
- Monson Public Schools
- Palmer Public Schools
- Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District
- Springfield Public Schools
- Westfield Public Schools
- West Springfield Public Schools
Franklin County:
- Pioneer Valley Public Schools
- Greenfield Public Schools
- Mohawk Trail Public Schools
- Phillips Academy Andover. Andover
- Greater Commonwealth Virtual School
- Gill-Montague Regional School District
- Orange Public Schools
- Hampden Charter School of Science
Disciplinary Defense in the Springfield Metro Area
Students across the country routinely face a variety of disciplinary issues, from academic performance issues such as sub-standard grades or cheating, up to more serious charges involving allegations of weapons and drug possession, property damage, computer misuse, bullying, harassment, and sexual assault. Premier Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento and his Education Law Team are available to counsel students and their families at all levels who are facing any kind of school-related accusation or consequence.
Academic Progression Issues
Schools expect students to pass courses, earn credits, and post grades that meet their school's standards. These expectations exist to better prepare students for the next grade or for their area of focus or certification. Schools are held accountable for ensuring students or graduates meet proficiency standards, such as the K-12 Massachusetts Learning Standards.
But schools don't always apply their academic progression standards correctly. Instructors sometimes make mistakes in calculating and entering grades. Administrators have made errors calculating earned credits and grade point averages. Extenuating circumstances like a death in the family or a student's own serious illness may qualify for a reversal of an academic progression sanction. Premier Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento helps students defeat academic dismissals.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Schools at all levels also hold students to academic integrity standards. The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Academic Regulations, posted each school year as a PDF on their Academic Regulations website serves as a good example. The regulations outline rules pertaining to academic honesty, including cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty.
Academic dishonesty undermines student learning as well as the certification role of schools, which must show that their graduates have the requisite knowledge and skill that graduation should represent. Students who truly violate academic conduct standards reasonably face disciplinary consequences.
At the same time, schools have procedures for filing grievances when a student believes they have been unfairly accused or punished. Again, schools can misidentify cases of cheating or mistake original or properly cited work or for plagiarism. Academic misconduct findings can ruin a student's reputation and education. Don't let false or unwarranted academic misconduct charges stand in the way of your or your child's future. Premier Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento helps students defeat unfair academic misconduct charges.
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
Schools must also ensure a reasonably safe environment, culture, and climate, and to this end, schools publish explicit student codes of conduct. One example is The University of Massachusetts Amherst's Code of Conduct.
These codes of conduct prohibit disruptive misbehaviors like hazing, sexual misconduct, fighting, threats, bullying, drugs or weapons on school premises, and so on. Students found in violation of these codes may be suspended or expelled.
Unfortunately, at times schools make mistakes. Innocent students are sometimes charged with offenses they did not commit and should not be penalized for. There are also circumstances in which students may be culpable to some degree, but a reasonable explanation exists for behavior that may negate a penalty. Behavioral misconduct findings can ruin a student's reputation and close doors to further education and career opportunities. Contact premier Education Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento to defeat false and unfair behavioral misconduct charges.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
Federal Title IX regulations require schools receiving federal funding to closely regulate certain forms of sexual misconduct. Title IX requires those schools to prohibit, prevent, and punish sexual assault, stalking, domestic or intimate partner violence, and sexual harassment. Schools often extend their Title IX policies to cover other non-Title IX sexual misconduct under the rubric of sexual exploitation.
These policies prohibit things like prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, sexual blackmail, and invasions of privacy. Sexual misconduct discipline can result in suspension or expulsion and ruin an education and future career.
Allegations of sexual misconduct are incredibly serious and should be thoroughly investigated. There is no excuse for sexual misconduct or violence on school campuses or anywhere in our society.
A student who finds themselves on the defending end of a Title IX sexual misconduct charge that they believe are false and for which they have a clear and compelling defense are advised to secure the services of an experienced Education Attorney-Advisor like Joseph D. Lento.
School Education Attorney-Advisor Value
If you are a student (or a parent/guardian of one) in the Springfield Metro area experiencing unwarranted or false school-related accusations or sanctions, know that a nationwide-practicing, professional education attorney-advisor may make the difference between a lengthy, costly, and ineffective grievance process and a fast and effective expungement of false claims.
It is important that your academic and conduct record accurately reflect the hard work and disciplined approach that has taken you this far. When your future is at stake – including further education, professional or vocational licensure, or job or career opportunities – it is smart to have someone with special academic administrative knowledge, skills, and experience by your side.
Contact Education Attorney-Advisor Lento and his Education Law Team today by calling 888.535.3686 or going online.
