If a student is notified that they’re being charged with a violation of their school’s code of conduct, regardless of what the offense is. Whether it involves Title IX sexual misconduct or a general disciplinary issue or an academic integrity or academic misconduct charge. They should not speak to school administrators without taking the necessary precautions. Too much is at stake. Schools are often in a rush to judgment. They’re not mindful of a student’s rights and interests. And unfortunately at times, they do not play by their own rules. The only way to try to ensure a fair process or a favorable outcome is to take the necessary precautions. Do not put yourself at a terrible disadvantage by taking premature steps without taking these precautions. An experienced attorney advisor can help and should be involved from the start of the process.

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When the SRO (School Resource Officer) is Involved: Why “Educational Discipline” Just Became “Legal Defense”

In the name of student safety, schools are installing School Resource Officers (SROs) on campus. But SROs’ involvement in campus problems also means that incidents at school can now turn directly into criminal investigations. What parents need to know is this: If your child faces discipline because of an incident […]

Can Schools Punish Students for Social Media Posts? The Mahanoy Standard

A frustrated high school cheerleader walks into a convenience store on a Saturday afternoon. She snaps a photo with a friend, raises her middle finger, and posts a profanity-filled message to Snapchat complaining about school and cheerleading. By Monday, she’s suspended from the cheer squad. Most students would assume that’s […]

State > District > School: How Inconsistent Policies Become a Defense in Student Misconduct

The state is greater than the district, while the district is greater than the school. That probably seems like a weird SAT math problem. However, it describes the legal concept of “preemption,” when a higher authority’s law prevents lower authorities from acting inconsistently with the senior law. And preemption can […]

Zero-Tolerance Discipline Policies Can Undermine Students’ Due Process Rights

Colleges and universities have broad authority to maintain campus safety and enforce student conduct policies. However, students accused of misconduct don’t lose their due process rights simply because allegations are serious. At the higher education level, courts have repeatedly recognized that suspension and expulsion can have life-changing academic and professional consequences. As […]