When your student starts school, you imagine what they will learn, which subjects they will find most interesting, and who they will grow up to become. You never even consider that they might get into enough trouble to warrant a progression or disciplinary hearing. But the reality is, most students face challenges in school.
The times of just passing classes and moving forward have changed dramatically. Now, schools expect students to jump through all sorts of hoops before being allowed to progress to the next course or grade. A student's background and experiences are rarely considered. Instead, if a student is unable to jump through these hoops, they are thought of as lazy or disrespectful and left behind.
All students, and their families, have the right to advice from an attorney when issues like this pop up. An attorney can help guide you through the proceedings, gathering evidence and witness testimony to defend your child's position. Accusations such as these can cause unfair, long-term consequences for your student.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm are experienced in helping students in the Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area who understand these accusations' implications. Call our offices today for help.
Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Area
The Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area is Pennsylvania's third most populated metropolitan area and includes the following towns:
- Alburtis
- Bangor
- Bath
- Bethlehem
- Bowmanstown
- Breinigsville
- Catasauqua
- Center Valley
- Cherryville
- Coopersburg
- Coplay
- Danielsville
- Easton
- East Texas
- Emmaus
- Fogelsville
- Fullerton
- Germansville
- Hellertown
- Laurys Station
- Macungie
- Martins Creek
- Nazareth
- New Tripoli
- Northampton
- Old Zionsville
- Orefield
- Palmerton
- Pen Argyl
- Schnecksville
- Slatedale
- Slatington
- Stockertown
- Tatamy
- Treichlers
- Trexlertown
- Walnutport
- Wind Gap
- Zionsville
- Allentown
- Indian Mountain Lake
- Ashfield
- Beaver Meadows
- Jim Thorpe
- Junedale
- Lansford
- Leighton
- Nesquehoning
- Parrybille
- Summit Hill
- Tresckow
- Weatherly
- Mount Bethel
- Portland
- Lake Harmony
Most attorneys in the United States try to focus on one small area or town and rarely expand their practice to include other places. It's easier to be well-known if you stick to one spot. But Attorney Lento does not believe that students in one place deserve a defense more than students in another area. He understands how important it is for students in all states and towns, no matter the size, to receive a quality defense from an experienced and knowledgeable attorney. This is why he has dedicated a large portion of his career to helping students navigate allegations made by their peers, faculty, or school administration.
If you or your child have been accused of violating an integral piece of the school's conduct rules, Attorney Lento can help.
Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area Student Concerns
No matter the grade or year your child is in college, they face daily challenges. Part of going to school is learning to juggle relationships with peers, teachers, and school administration, working to get good grades and worrying about the future. Students in the Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area may also have other concerns, including family expectations, social anxiety, and body image issues. With so much pressure to do well, many students succumb to the overwhelm and begin behaving in ways they usually would not. Unfortunately, many schools do not treat these new behaviors as cries for help and end up punishing students unnecessarily. Working with an attorney-advisor will ensure your child's behavior is addressed in a way that gives your student a voice and mitigates any negative consequences.
Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ Metro Area Schools
Attorney Lento and the Lento Law Firm Team will provide an exceptional defense to any student, in every school, in the Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area, who are accused of student conduct violations.
Attorney Lento is available to help undergraduate and graduate students at the following universities and colleges in Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ:
- Lehigh University
- Lafayette College
- Muhlenberg College
- Cedar Crest College
- Moravian University
- Penn State Lehigh Valley
- DeSales University
Additionally, Attorney Lento and Lento Law Firm are also wholly qualified to work with students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, which includes, but is not limited to, the following public school districts:
- Easton Area School District
- Parkland School District
- Wilson Area School District
- Nazareth Area School District
- Southern Lehigh School District
- Saucon Valley School District
- East Penn School District
- Salisbury Township School District
- Northwest Lehigh School District
- Bethlehem Area School District
- Northampton Area School District
- Catasauqua Area School District
- Pen Argyl Area School District
Attorney Lento and his team are not only available to help at public schools, but private schools as well, including:
- Datzyk Montessori School
- Lehigh Christian Academy
- Covenant Christian Academy
- The Swain School
- Bridgeway Academy
- Emmaus Baptist Academy
- Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley
- Mercy School for Special Learning
Disciplinary Defense in the Allentown – Bethlehem – Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Area
As stated above, it is not uncommon for students to get into trouble at least once while in school. The issues occur when the behavior becomes more complex, disruptive, or violent. When these more significant disciplinary issues pop up, like accusations of cheating, sexual harassment, or threats of violence, an attorney's help becomes necessary.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm have spent years helping students across the country in similar situations. This experience is unmatched and gives them a unique insight into building a strong defense on your child's behalf.
Students are punished all the time for misunderstandings and without any evidence. Having an attorney to help navigate these proceedings will give you peace of mind that your student has the best chance of getting past this issue without lifelong consequences following them around. Call the Lento Law Firm today if your student has been accused of a disciplinary issue.
Academic Progression Issues
All students, no matter their age, are expected to progress through their classes and grades within a particular period. For instance, most US high schools expect students to graduate before their twenty-first birthday. If they are unable to, the school will usually have them leave without graduating. The only way for these students to receive their high school diploma would be to pursue a GED.
In the Easton School District, high school students must earn 24.50 credits between 9th and 12th grade to graduate. Additionally, they must achieve a certain number of credits to progress from grade to grade. If they fail a required course, they are encouraged to retake it in summer school to make sure they can still graduate on time with their class.
Progression issues can occur in college as well. For instance, at Lehigh University, students are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0. If their GPA drops below this minimum and they have completed less than 19 credit hours at Lehigh, they will be placed on Scholastic Warning (for GPAs between 1.7 and 2.0) or Scholastic Probation (for GPAs under 1.7). Students on Scholastic Probation cannot participate in extracurricular activities or hold an office in a university organization.
If your student is having a difficult time progressing through their classes at the pace the school requires, Attorney Lento can help negotiate with the school on your child's behalf.
Academic Misconduct Issues
As all schools require students to hit certain progression standards, so do they command students to abide by specific academic integrity standards. While the specific definition of academic misconduct changes from school to school, for the most part, it refers to conduct like cheating, plagiarism, submitting the same assignment to multiple classes for credit without permission, and forging school documents.
At the Allentown Central Catholic High School, all acts of academic misconduct will lead to two or more days of after-school detention. If the student is specifically caught cheating or plagiarizing, they can receive anything from zero credit on the assignment and four days of afterschool detention, to three days of in school suspension or expulsion.
The severity of the punishment is supposed to depend on the seriousness of the alleged offense. But schools often fail to offer students a chance to defend themselves, punishing them more severely than necessary. This is why it is important to reach out to an attorney when you learn of these accusations. Student Defense Attorney Lento will be able to contact the school on your behalf and ensure they uphold your right to due process and a fair hearing.
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
At the start of every school year, students are given a copy of their school's handbook. This handbook includes all the expectations the school has for the student, including what procedures the school will follow if an issue pops up. They may impose punishments on the student for violating the rules in the handbook. While the handbook also includes the rules surrounding academic integrity, it also contains the rules surrounding student behavior.
For instance, at Lafayette College, students are expected to refrain from:
- Obstructing teaching or research activities.
- Possessing or manufacturing illegal drugs.
- Hazing or dangerous pranks.
- Destroying or damaging university property.
- Helping others violate the Student Code of Conduct or public law.
- Harassing or intimidating others, whether verbally or physically.
- Tampering with, or stealing from, university safety equipment.
- Blocking fire exits.
- Gambling for money or other valuables.
- Deliberately exposing private body parts in public.
- Accessing or attempting to access university buildings without permission.
If a student is caught committing one of these acts above, they will be referred for disciplinary action. Students are supposed to have a chance to defend themselves once they are made aware of the allegations against them. During their disciplinary hearing, they can bring witnesses and relevant evidence to prove their side of the story and, hopefully, mitigate any overly harsh or inappropriate sanctions the hearing committee might wish to impose.
It should be noted that there are cases where students are not given this chance to defend themselves after being falsely accused of violating the code of conduct. When this happens, the sanction surely outweighs the supposed action, and the student's life is upended completely. Having a student defense attorney in your corner will ensure you are not subject to gross violations of your rights.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
The federal government offers most schools federal funding, and in return, they ask that schools follow a particular set of rules when investigating and resolving acts of gender-based discrimination, which includes sexual misconduct. Under the Title IX regulation, sexual misconduct also refers to sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, intimate partner violence, and domestic violence. A student who is accused of a Title IX violation could be severely punished if they do not have a strong defense to present at their hearing.
Many students believe they can show up to their hearing without fully preparing to defend themselves in front of the committee. When this happens, they end up needlessly suffering for years. For example, if a student is suspended or expelled, the punishment is noted on their transcript. When applying to college or graduate school, they will have to explain the incident that required such a punishment on every application, which can make getting admitted more difficult.
How a Discipline Defense Attorney Can Help
If you or your child have been accused of violating the student code of conduct at your school, whether they are a kindergartener or a college senior, they can be sanctioned for their behavior. Unfortunately, most schools rarely take the time to understand their student's backgrounds or experiences before imposing harsh sanctions that will derail the student's future.
The LLF Law firm are experienced student defense attorneys who understand how important these proceedings are. They will work tirelessly to ensure your student's future is protected. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online. LLF Law Firm can help.
