High School Title IX Advisor - Minnesota

Title IX promises to protect students in public schools nationwide from experiencing sexual assault or discrimination. It also places incentives on any school that receives federal funding to complete a sexual misconduct investigation quickly. Because of this, if your student is facing accusations of sexual misconduct, your Minnesota high school may not pay attention to your student's rights.

You must work to protect your student's rights. Your Minnesota high school may not have the knowledge or resources to do so—and your student's entire future may be at stake.

Does Sexual Assault Happen in MN High Schools?

Cases of sexual misconduct are in the national media every day. Because of this, it's easy to become (unfortunately) accustomed to hearing about them. However, these cases are often far away. They often occur in universities and colleges. Is sexual assault really something your high school student needs to worry about?

CBS Minnesota reported that an 18-year-old Minnesota high school student was the alleged perpetrator of a sex offense. Police arrested that student merely on the basis of that allegation.

An arrest for sexual assault, even if later proved false, can follow your high school student for the rest of their life.

The Minnesota Office of Higher Education releases a yearly Sexual Assault Data Report detailing hundreds of accusations made in each calendar year. According to that same office, the definition of sexual misconduct is:

• Rape (intercourse without consent)
• Any sexual act directed against another person without consent, including occasions where the victim cannot give consent
• Any occasions of unwanted sexual touching
• Incest

The definition of sexual misconduct is wide. A student can face Title IX accusations for a large number of reasons. Originally, Title IX - a law under the Educational Amendments of 1972 - protected students from sex-based discrimination. Over time, that protection grew to include sexual assault.

Unfortunately, that same sense of protection often does not extend to alleged perpetrators. Your school may naturally side with the student who makes the accusation—not your student.

If you and your family are facing Title IX proceedings, you must seek legal aid to protect your student's rights. A competent high school Title IX advisor can help you hold your school accountable for how they treat your child.

What Happens after Sexual Assault in MN High Schools?

Because Title IX applies to all federally-funded institutions—from elementary schools to postsecondary universities—it can be easy to assume that all schools have the resources and personnel on hand to handle Title IX cases. This is not the case. Universities may have trained staff with the experience to handle allegations of sexual misconduct. Your student's high school may lack those same resources.

One Minnesota high school's posted Title IX procedures detail every step of a sexual misconduct case, from the initial accusation through to student discipline. According to these procedures, the accused student must receive written notification at every stage of a Title IX process. Other school districts may not have stated, organized, and clear Title IX procedures. This can leave your student's rights up in the air.

If your student does not receive:

• A notification of the official accusation
• A written statement of their presumed innocence before the investigation, or
• Copies of any questions asked by any party during the Title IX process

 Your high school may have infringed upon your student's rights. The Minnesota Department of Education recommends, along with the U.S. Department of Education, that every school district maintain and disseminate a clear sexual misconduct policy. This recommendation can leave room for debate as to specific procedures and protections necessary for fair treatment of all parties in a Title IX investigation. Your high school's specific sexual misconduct policy may not be comprehensive. It may not be rigidly enforced. You need to be able to hold your Minnesota high school accountable to your student's rights—because your high school might not do so of its own accord.

Because a sexual misconduct accusation can impact your child's current schooling, future academic and career choices, and even limit the relationships and activities they can pursue, it is crucial that your student receives a fair investigation and hearing. Otherwise, your student's entire future might become much more difficult. Having an allegation of sexual assault on your student's record might make it harder to get into the college of their dreams.

How a Successful Title IX Legal Advisor can Hold Your MN School Accountable

In Title IX cases, the protection of your rights is important. If you're able to choose an advisor who has the experience to know whether your school is stripping away your student's rights, that can make all the difference. If you have a knowledgeable Title IX advisor by your side, your high school will not be able to take advantage of your inexperience.

If you are wondering what the benefits of working with a successful Title IX legal advisor may be, here are a few actions a legal professional may be able to assist with:

• Preparation for any offered Title IX hearing
• Drafting statements on time
• Interviewing witnesses and analyzing evidence
• Examining your Minnesota school's posted Title IX processes
• Protecting your student's rights during a potentially unfair or rushed investigation, and
• Keeping your information confidential during Title IX proceedings.

Joseph D. Lento is Ready to Help Protect Your Student's Rights

At the Lento Law Firm, we have a history of successfully managing high school Title IX cases, both in Minnesota and across the United States of America. Joseph D. Lento has more than a thousand students' rights cases, and he will work aggressively to protect your student's rights as well. As an experienced and knowledgeable Title IX Advisor, Joseph D. Lento can assist with investigative actions and preparation for sexual misconduct adjudication hearings. If you need comprehensive assistance during your Title IX case, call 888-535-3686 to contact the Lento Law Firm today. Alternatively, complete our brief online form to learn more.

Minnesota 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

• Ada-Borup School District
• Adrian School District
• Aitkin School District
• Albany School District
• Albert Lea School District
• Alden-Conger School District
• Alexandria School District
• Annandale School District
• Anoka-Hennepin School District
• Ashby School District
• Austin School District

B

• Badger School District
• Bagley School District
• Balaton School District
• Barnesville School District
• Barnum School District
• Battle Lake School District
• Becker School District
• Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa School District
• Belle Plaine School District
• Bellingham School District
• Bemidji Area Schools
• Benson School District
• Bertha-Hewitt School District
• Big Lake School District
• Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian School District
• Blackduck School District
• Blooming Prairie School District
• Bloomington Public Schools
• Blue Earth Area School District
• Braham School District
• Brainerd School District
• Brandon School District
• Breckenridge School District
• Brewster School District
• Brooklyn Center School District
• Browerville School District
• Browns Valley School District
• Buffalo Lake-Hector School District
• Buffalo School District
• Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District
• Butterfield School District
• Byron School District

C

• Caledonia School District
• Cambridge-Isanti School District
• Campbell-Tintah School District
• Canby School District
• Cannon Falls Area Schools
• Carlton School District
• Cass Lake-Bena School District
• Cedar Mountain School District
• Centennial School District
• Chaska School District
• Chatfield School District
• Chisago Lakes School District
• Chisholm School District
• Chokio-Alberta School District
• Clearbrook-Gonvick School District
• Cleveland School District
• Climax School District
• Clinton-Graceville-Beardsley School District
• Cloquet School District
• Columbia Heights School District
• Comfrey School District
• Cook County School District
• Cromwell-Wright School District
• Crookston School District
• Crosby-Ironton School District
• Cyrus School District

D

• Dassel-Cokato School District
• Dawson-Boyd School District
• Deer River School District
• Delano School District
• Detroit Lakes School District
• Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School District
• Dover-Eyota School District
• Duluth Public Schools

E

• Eagle Valley School District
• East Central School District
• East Grand Forks School District
• Eastern Carver County Public Schools
• Eden Prairie Schools
• Eden Valley-Watkins School District
• Edina Public Schools
• Elk River Area School District
• Ellsworth School District
• Ely School District
• Esko School District
• Evansville School District
• Eveleth-Gilbert School District

F

• Fairmont Area School District
• Faribault School District
• Farmington School District
• Fergus Falls School District
• Fertile-Beltrami School District
• Fillmore Central School District
• Fisher School District
• Floodwood School District
• Foley School District
• Forest Lake School District
• Fosston School District
• Frazee-Vergas School District
• Fridley School District
• Fulda School District

G

• Glencoe-Silver Lake School District
• Glenville-Emmons School District
• Goodhue School District
• Goodridge School District
• Granada Huntley-East Chain School District
• Grand Meadow School District
• Grand Rapids School District - ISD 318
• Greenbush-Middle River School District
• Greenway School District
• Grygla School District

H

• Hancock School District
• Hastings School District
• Hawley School District
• Hayfield School District
• Hendricks School District
• Henning School District
• Herman-Norcross School District
• Hermantown School District
• Heron Lake-Okabena School District
• Hibbing School District
• Hill City School District
• Hills-Beaver Creek School District
• Hinckley-Finlayson School District
• Holdingford School District
• Hopkins Public Schools
• Houston Public Schools
• Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted School District
• Hutchinson School District

I

• International Falls School District
• Inver Grove Heights School District
• Isle School District
• Ivanhoe School District

J

• Jackson County Central School District
• Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton School District
• Jordan School District

K

• Kasson-Mantorville School District
• Kelliher School District
• Kenyon-Wanamingo School District
• Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg School District
• Kingsland School District
• Kittson Central School District

L

• La Crescent-Hokah School District
• Lac Qui Parle Valley School District
• Lake Benton School District
• Lake City School District
• Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial School District
• Lake Park-Audubon School District
• Lake Superior School District
• Lake of the Woods School District
• Lakeview School District
• Lakeville Area Public Schools
• Lancaster School District
• Lanesboro School District
• Laporte School District
• Le Center School District
• Le Sueur-Henderson School District
• Leroy School District
• Lester Prairie School District
• Lewiston-Altura School District
• Litchfield School District
• Little Falls School District
• Littlefork-Big Falls School District
• Luverne School District
• Lyle School District
• Lynd School District

M

• Mabel-Canton School District
• Madelia School District
• Mahnomen School District
• Mahtomedi School District
• Mankato School District
• Maple Lake School District
• Maple River School District
• Marshall County Central School District
• Marshall School District
• Martin County West School District
• McLeod West School District
• Medford School District
• Menahga School District
• Mesabi East School District
• Milaca School District
• Milroy School District
• Minneapolis Public Schools
• Minneota School District
• Minnetonka School District
• Minnewaska School District
• Montevideo School District
• Monticello School District
• Moorhead School District
• Moose Lake School District
• Mora School District
• Morris School District
• Mounds View Public Schools
• Mountain Iron-Buhl School District
• Mountain Lake School District
• Murray County Central School District

N

• Nashwauk-Keewatin School District
• Nett Lake School District
• Nevis School District
• New London-Spicer School District
• New Prague Area School District
• New Ulm School District
• Nicollet School District
• Norman County East School District
• Norman County West School District
• North Branch School District
• North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District 622
• Northfield School District
• Northland Community School District
• Norwood School District

O

• Ogilvie School District
• Oklee School District
• Onamia School District
• Orono School District
• Ortonville School District
• Osakis School District
• Osseo Area Schools
• Owatonna School District

P

• Park Rapids School District
• Parkers Prairie School District
• Paynesville School District
• Pelican Rapids School District
• Pequot Lakes School District
• Perham School District
• Pierz School District
• Pillager School District
• Pine City School District
• Pine Island School District
• Pine Point School District
• Pine River-Backus School District
• Pipestone Area School District
• Plummer School District
• Princeton School District
• Prior Lake School District
• Prior Lake-Savage School District
• Proctor School District

R

• Randolph School District
• Red Lake School District
• Red Lake Falls School District
• Red Rock Central School District
• Red Wing Public Schools
• Redwood Falls Area School District
• Renville County West School District
• Richfield Public Schools
• Robbinsdale Area Schools
• Rochester Public Schools
• Rockford School District
• Rocori School District
• Roseau School District
• Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools
• Roseville Area Schools
• Rothsay School District
• Round Lake School District
• Royalton School District
• Rush City School District
• Rushford-Peterson School District
• Russell School District
• Ruthton School District

S

• Saint Paul Public Schools
• Sartell School District
• Sauk Centre School District
• Sauk Rapids School District
• Sebeka School District
• Shakopee Public Schools
• Sibley East Public Schools
• Sleepy Eye School District
• South Koochiching School District
•  South St. Paul School District
• South Washington County Schools
• Southland School District
• Spring Grove School District
• Spring Lake Park School District
• Springfield School District
• Anthony-New Brighton School District
• Charles School District
• Clair School District
• Cloud School District
• Francis School District
• James School District
• Louis County School District
• Louis Park School District
• Michael-Albertville School District
• Peter School District
• Staples-Motley School District
• Stephen-Argyle School District
• Stewartville School District
• Stillwater School District
• Swanville School District

T

• Thief River Falls School District
• Tracy School District
• Tri-County School District
• Triton School District
• Truman School District
• Tyler School District

U

• Ulen-Hitterdal School District
• Underwood School District
• United South Central School District
• Upsala School District

V

• Verndale School District
• Virginia Public Schools

W

• Wabasha-Kellogg School District
• Wabasso School District
• Waconia School District
• Walker-Hackensack-Akeley School District
• Warroad School District
• Waseca School District
• Watertown-Mayer School District
• Waterville-Elysian-Morristown School District
• Waubun School District
• Wayzata Public Schools
• West Central Area Schools
• West Metro Education Program (WMEP)
• West St. Paul-Mendota Hts.-Eagan School District
• Westbrook-Walnut Grove School District
• Westonka School District
• Wheaton Area School District
• White Bear Lake School District
• Willmar School District
• Willow River School District
• Win-E-Mac School District
• Windom School District
• Winona Independent School District 861
• Worthington School District
• Wrenshall School District

Y

• Yellow Medicine East School District

Z

• Zumbrota-Mazeppa School District

It is critical to make certain the Title IX investigation at your child's Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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.