High School Title IX Advisor - Iowa

High school can be a tricky time for your student. If your student faces unwarranted sexual misconduct allegations, that can make their experience much worse. You've likely spent years investing in your child's education. You've entrusted your student into the care and protection of your Iowa high school. This can make it all the more jarring when that high school suddenly seems to turn on your student, forgetting crucial protections when your student needs them most.

Title IX is a civil law included in the Educational Amendments of 1972. Title IX promises your child an education free from sexual assault or discrimination on the basis of sex. Under it, all publicly funded schools must investigate all claims of sexual misconduct, or risk losing their funding.

Your school may not see many cases of sexual misconduct—which is a good thing! Unfortunately, it may also mean that your school does not have the trained personnel or resources to handle your student's Title IX investigation fairly.

It may fall to you to protect your student—and your student's future. Hiring a seasoned Title IX advisor may be your best bet to ensure your student does not face undue punishment.

Sexual Misconduct in Iowa High Schools

You may be wondering: Does sexual misconduct really happen in my student's high school? Title IX cases often make national news, which can make the concept feel far removed from your community. Unfortunately, a brief perusal of news stories makes it clear that sexual misconduct is an issue everywhere.

Local news reported that in one small Iowa town, two high school students faced charges for second-degree sexual abuse after an alleged incident involving a classmate. According to the Des Moines Register, another four students at a second Iowa high school assaulted a peer. All four students received criminal charges.

These stories are every parent's worst nightmare. Title IX allegations are very serious, and your school should work relentlessly to protect every student. In the pursuit of justice, however, your school can't forget to protect the rights of accused students as well. Your child is innocent until proven guilty. You may need to be proactive in protecting your child's rights. Otherwise, your child's entire future may be more difficult as a result.

Student Discipline Procedures in Iowa

The Iowa Department of Education has laid out several policies regarding Title IX cases. Those policies make it clear that your school district has lots of responsibilities involving their preparation for Title IX proceedings.

Your school must designate a member of the staff to be the Title IX Coordinator. Your school must make sure that this individual's updated contact information is available to every member of the educational community. Title IX cases officially begin when one student brings a written accusation to the Title IX Coordinator. After that, your school may simply use their normal student disciplinary procedures to decide how to investigate the case.

Your student has definite rights throughout their Title IX investigation. Among these rights are access to a competent Title IX advisor, the opportunity to submit written questions to the investigators, and timely receipt of all decisions, findings, and proposed disciplinary measures. When your school reaches a decision, your student also has the right to appeal.

Since your school may naturally favor the accuser, your school may infringe upon these rights. To ensure your child receives a fair Title IX investigation and hearing, you'll need to work with a Title IX advisor who will fight aggressively to hold your school accountable.

What Stakes does Your Iowa High School Student Face?

The repercussions of sexual misconduct vary widely. Each state and school district has its own code of conduct. These codes shed light on the punishments your student may face.

One thing's for sure: If your student is facing false allegations of sexual assault, they don't deserve any punishment. Unwarranted accusations can be incredibly damaging, both to your student's current reputation at their school as well as your student's future. Even association with a Title IX investigation can follow your student through the rest of their academic and professional career.

One Iowa high school's code of conduct notes that all consequences for misconduct will be ‘developmentally appropriate', which means that your student's age and education may influence their recommended punishment. The severity of the alleged incident will also impact your school's decision.

As an immediate result of your student's Title IX case, your student may face any of the following:

• Immediate removal from the classroom
• In-school detention, at a length specified by the school
• Denial of privileges, ranging from school bus use, use of the student's personal vehicle, participation in extracurricular activities, or anything else the school deems appropriate
• An in-school or out-of-school suspension. An out-of-school suspension may result in lowered grades for your student.
• Ongoing disciplinary meetings or an assignment to a discipline hearing officer who will monitor your child's ongoing behavior
• Expulsion from your student's school, or a referral to an alternate mode of education
• Criminal charges

It's up to you to make sure that your Iowa high school student does not pay the penalty for a crime they didn't commit. Your Title IX advisor can recommend a course of action to ensure your student has their best chance for a favorable outcome to their Title IX case.

A Hard-Working High School Title IX Advisor

Joseph D. Lento has years of experience handling student misconduct cases all across the nation. As your Title IX Advisor, Joseph D. Lento can help you prepare for hearings, deal with your paperwork and official documents, and help you keep your student's high school accountable. If you're able to hire a skilled Title IX advisor to be proactive about your case, your student's chances of a favorable outcome may increase. If your student stands accused of sexual assault, contact the Lento Law Firm to learn more about their options. Call 888-535-3686 for more information, or fill out a brief online form at your earliest convenience.

Iowa high schools where Joseph D. Lento can help as your child's student's Title IX advisor during investigations, hearings and appeals include, but are not limited to, the following school districts:

A

• Adair-Casey School District
• Adel-DeSoto-Minburn School District
• AGWSR School District
• A-H-S-T School District
• Akron Westfield School District
• Albert City-Truesdale School District
• Albia School District
• Alburnett School District
• Alden School District
• Algona School District
• Allamakee School District
• Allison-Bristow School District
• Alta School District
• Ames Community School District
• Anamosa School District
• Andrew Community School District
• Anita School District
• Ankeny Community School District
• Anthon-Oto School District
• Aplington-Parkersburg School District
• Ar-We-Va School District
• Armstrong-Ringsted School District
• Atlantic School District
• Audubon School District
• Aurelia School District

B

• Ballard Community School District
• Battle Creek-Ida Grove School District
• Baxter School District
• BCLUW School District
• Bedford School District
• Belle Plaine School District
• Bellevue Community School District
• Belmond-Klemme School District
• Belmond-Klemme School District
• Bennett Community School District
• Benton School District
• Bettendorf Community School District
• Bondurant-Farrar School District
• Boone Community School District
• Boyden-Hull School District
• Boyer Valley School District
• Brooklyn-Guernsey-Malcom School District
• Burlington School District

C

• C and M School District
• CAL School District
• Calamus-Wheatland Community School District
• Camanche Community School District
• Cardinal School District
• Carlisle School District
• Carroll School District
• Cedar Falls Community Schools
• Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Center Point-Urbana Community School District
• Centerville School District
• Central City School District
• Central Clinton Community School District
• Central Decatur School District
• Central Lee School District
• Central Lyon School District
• Central School District
• Chariton School District
• Charles City School District
• Charter Oak-Ute School District
• Cherokee School District
• Clarinda School District
• Clarion-Goldfield School District
• Clarke Community School District
• Clarksville School District
• Clay Central-Everly School District
• Clayton Ridge School District
• Clear Creek-Amana School District
• Clear Lake School District
• Clearfield School District
• Clinton Community School District
• Colfax-Mingo School District
• College Community School District
• Collins-Maxwell School District
• Colo-Nesco School District
• Columbus School District
• Coon Rapids-Bayard School District
• Corning School District
• Corwith-Wesley School District
• Council Bluffs Community School District
• Creston Community School District

D

• Dallas Center-Grimes School District
• Danville School District
• Davenport Community Schools
• Davis County School District
• Decorah School District
• Deep River-Millersburg School District
• Delwood Community School District
• Denison School District
• Denver School District
• Des Moines Independent Public School District
• Diagonal School District
• Dike-New Hartford School District
• Dows School District
• Dubuque Community Schools
• Dunkerton Community Schools
• Durant Community School District

E

• Eagle Grove School District
• Earlham School District
• East Buchanan School District
• East Central Community School District
• East Greene School District
• East Marshall School District
• East Union School District
• Eastern Allamakee School District
• Eddyville-Blakesburg School District
• Edgewood-Colesburg School District
• Eldora-New Providence School District
• Elk Horn-Kimballton School District
• Emmetsburg School District
• English Valleys School District
• Essex School District
• Estherville Lincoln School District
• Exira School District

F

• Fairfield Community School District
• Farragut School District
• Forest City School District
• Fort Dodge School District
• Fort Madison School District
• Fredericksburg School District
• Fremont-Mills School District

G

• Galva-Holstein School District
• Garner-Hayfield School District
• George-Little Rock School District
• Gilbert School District
• Gilmore City-Bradgate School District
• Gladbrook-Reinbeck School District
• Glenwood School District
• Glidden-Ralston School District
• GMG School District
• Graettinger School District
• Greene School District
• Grinnell-Newburg School District
• Griswold School District
• Grundy Center School District
• Guthrie Center School District

H

• Hamburg School District
• Hampton-Dumont School District
• Harlan School District
• Harmony School District
• Harris-Lake Park School District
• Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn School District
• Highland School District
• Hinton School District
• H-L-V School District
• Holy Family Catholic Schools
• Howard-Winneshiek School District
• Hubbard-Radcliffe School District
• Hudson School District
• Humboldt School District

I

• IKM School District
• Independence School District
• Indianola School District
• Interstate 35 School District
• Iowa City Community School District
• Iowa Falls School District
• Iowa Valley School District

J

• Janesville Consolidated School District
• Jefferson-Scranton School District
• Jesup School District
• Johnston School District

K

• Keokuk School District
• Keota School District
• Kingsley-Pierson School District
• Knoxville School District

L

• Lake Mills School District
• Lamoni School District
• Laurens-Marathon School District
• Lawton-Bronson School District
• Le Mars School District
• Lenox School District
• Lewis Central School District
• Lineville-Clio School District
• Linn-Mar Community School District
• Lisbon Community School District
• Logan-Magnolia School District
• Lone Tree School District
• Louisa-Muscatine School District
• LuVerne School District
• Lynnville-Sully School District

M

• Madrid Community School District
• Malvern School District
• Manning School District
• Manson Northwest Webster School District
• Maple Valley School District
• Maquoketa Community School District
• Maquoketa Valley School District
• Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn School District
• Marion Independent School District
• Marshalltown School District
• Martensdale-St Marys School District
• Mason City Community School District
• Mediapolis School District
• Melcher-Dallas School District
• Meservey-Thornton School District
• Mid-Prairie School District
• Midland School District
• Missouri Valley Community School District
• Montezuma School District
• Monticello School District
• Moravia School District
• Mormon Trail School District
• Morning Sun School District
• Moulton-Udell School District
• Mount Ayr School District
• Mount Pleasant School District
• Mount Vernon Community School District
• Murray School District
• Muscatine Community School District

N

• Nashua-Plainfield School District
• Nevada School District
• New Hampton School District
• New London School District
• New Market School District
• Newell-Fonda School District
• Newton School District
• Nishna Valley School District
• Nodaway Valley Community School District
• Nora Springs-Rock Falls Community School District
• North Cedar Community School District
• North Central School District
• North Fayette Community School District
• North Iowa School District
• North Kossuth School District
• North Linn Community School District
• North Mahaska School District
• North Polk Community School District
• North Scott Community School District
• North Tama County School District
• North Winneshiek School District
• Northeast Community School District
• Northeast Hamilton School District
• Northwood-Kensett School District
• Norwalk School District

O

• Odebolt-Arthur School District
• Oelwein Community School District
• Ogden Community School District
• Okoboji School District
• Olin Consolidated School District
• Orient-Macksburg School District
• Osage School District
• Oskaloosa School District
• Ottumwa School District

P

• Panorama School District
• Paton-Churdan School District
• PCM School District
• Pekin School District
• Pella Christian Schools
• Pella School District
• Perry School District
• Pleasant Valley Community School District
• Pleasantville School District
• Pocahontas Area School District
• Pomeroy-Palmer School District
• Postville School District
• Prairie Valley Community School District
• Prescott School District
• Preston Community School District

R

• Red Oak School District
• Remsen-Union School District
• Riceville School District
• River Valley School District
• Riverside School District
• Rock Valley School District
• Rockwell City-Lytton School District
• Rockwell-Swaledale School District
• Roland-Story School District
• Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock Community School District
• Russell School District
• Ruthven-Ayrshire School District

S

• Sac School District
• Saydel School District
• Schaller-Crestland School District
• Schleswig School District
• Sentral School District
• Sergeant Bluff-Luton School District
• Seymour School District
• Sheffield-Chapin School District
• Sheldon School District
• Shenandoah School District
• Sibley-Ocheyedan School District
• Sidney School District
• Sigourney School District
• Sioux Center School District
• Sioux Central School District
• Sioux City Community Schools
• Solon School District
• South Clay School District
• South Hamilton School District
• South O'Brien School District
• South Page School District
• South Tama County School District
• South Winneshiek School District
• Southeast Polk Community School District
• Southeast Warren School District
• Southeast Webster Grand School District
• Southern Cal School District
• Spencer School District
• Spirit Lake School District
• Springville School District
• Stanton School District
• Starmont School District
• Storm Lake School District
• Stratford Community School District
• Sumner School District

T

• Terril School District
• Tipton Community School District
• Titonka Consolidated School District
• Treynor School District
• Tri-Center School District
• Tri-County School District
• Tripoli School District
• Turkey Valley School District
• Twin Cedars School District
• Twin Rivers School District

U

• Underwood School District
• Union Community School District
• United Community School District
• Urbandale School District

V

• Valley Community School District
• Van Buren School District
• Van Meter School District
• Ventura School District
• Villisca School District
• Vinton-Shellsburg School District

W

• Waco School District
• Wall Lake View Auburn School District
• Walnut School District
• Wapello School District
• Wapsie Valley School District
• Washington School District
• Waterloo Community Schools
• Waukee School District
• Waverly-Shell Rock School District
• Wayne Community School District
• Webster City School District
• West Bend-Mallard School District
• West Branch Community School District
• West Burlington Independent School District
• West Central Community School District
• West Central Valley School District
• West Delaware County School District
• West Des Moines Community Schools
• West Hancock School District
• West Harrison School District
• West Liberty Community School District
• West Lyon School District
• West Marshall School District
• West Monona School District
• West Sioux School District
• Western Dubuque Community School District
• Westwood School District
• Whiting School District
• Williamsburg School District
• Wilton Community School District
• Winfield-Mt Union School District
• Winterset School District
• Woden-Crystal Lake School District
• Woodbine School District
• Woodbury Central School District
• Woodward-Granger School District

It is critical to make certain the Title IX investigation at your child's Iowa high school is handled properly and that the accused student's interests and rights are protected from as early as possible during the sexual misconduct investigative process.  One major reason is because even at high schools where a finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct charges is made at a hearing, the investigation will set the stage for what the hearing panel is provided prior to a hearing (and what the hearing panel will in large part rely on at a hearing), and at high schools where the finding of responsibility is made solely through the investigative process, what takes place during the investigation itself will determine whether the accused student is found responsible or not responsible for Title IX charges.

Unfortunately, some parents make the mistake of not taking the necessary precautions as soon as possible when accused of sexual misconduct.  Some people will mistakenly believe that if they "just explain what happened," their school will be fair and impartial and will arrive at the truth.  In a perfect world this may be the case, but in a perfect world, sexual misconduct allegations and Title IX charges would not exist.

Fighting passionately for the future of his clients at schools throughout the nation for many years, Joseph D. Lento knows how important it is to mount the strongest defense because he understands that an accused high school student's academic future is on the line. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX attorney advisor to high school students facing sexual misconduct investigations and disciplinary cases in Iowa and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National High School Title IX Attorney Joseph D. Lento today at 888-535-3686.