As a student, you are likely to face difficulties at some point in your academic career. Education is to help individuals learn and grow, which can be a painful process at times. There are many challenges that students face on a daily basis. From struggling to keep up with schoolwork to dealing with personal problems and coping with stress and anxiety, students have a lot to manage. Even the most conscientious students can fall behind when personal issues become overwhelming, and anyone is susceptible to making a mistake or bad decision. When problems in life start affecting a student's behavior or performance in school, disciplinary action often follows.
School disciplinary actions can have a serious effect on the rest of a student's academic career. Students can be punished for their actions with consequences ranging from failing a course or grade, receiving a permanent black mark on a student's record, or, most commonly, suspensions or expulsion. These disciplinary actions can follow a student long past graduation and may affect that person's ability to pursue their goals and dreams. If you are facing academic or behavioral misconduct charges at school, the Lento Law Firm can help. We have represented many students in the Fresno area and throughout California. Experienced student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento will work with you to develop a defense that is tailored to your individual situation and will help you understand the student discipline process and what to expect. If you are facing disciplinary action, the Lento Law Firm can help you defend your rights and ensure that you are treated fairly.
The Fresno Metropolitan Area
The Fresno metropolitan area is located in one of the most beautiful and agriculturally-important areas in the world. Nestled in the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno metro area includes Fresno County and Madera County and makes up the third-largest metropolitan area in California. Unlike many large metropolitan areas, the Fresno-Madera-Hanford area is predominantly rural as the San Joaquin Valley grows a large portion of the world's nuts, citrus, vegetables, and fruits--especially grapes. In fact, Fresno County is the largest agricultural county in the United States!
Despite its rural setting, the Fresno metropolitan area contains many bustling cities and suburbs, including Clovis, Madera, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, Chowchilla, and Coalinga. Because of its close proximity to major military bases, several national parks, and multiple world-renowned wineries and vineyards, the Fresno area is also one of the fastest-growing in the country. Young families and professionals have flocked to Fresno, causing huge growth rates in the area's schools and universities. The Lento Law Firm has successfully defended students in the Fresno area against a range of student disciplinary actions, including academic misconduct and behavioral misconduct charges. If you are a student at any level--undergraduate, graduate, or professional--and are facing allegations of academic or behavioral misconduct, the Lento Law Firm can help you defend your rights.
Fresno Metro Area Student Concerns
While they may attend school in a picturesque location, students in Fresno have to deal with many challenges and concerns. From their grades to their peers to their extracurriculars, students at all grade levels balance many priorities each day. In the Fresno area, the region's dependence on agriculture means that many students have a long commute through miles of vineyards, orchards, and fields from outer suburbs like Reedley, Clovis, or Chowchilla. The time spent commuting may affect students' ability to get to class on time or participate in all activities. Students with long commutes may also be exhausted at the end of the day and have less available time for studying.
When student disciplinary problems arise in high school, college, or graduate school, there is often a reason or explanation for the issue. At the Lento Law Firm, we want to hear your side of the story. If you are a student in the Fresno area who is facing disciplinary action from your school, contact the Lento Law Firm for experienced student defense representation. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has represented students in California and throughout the Fresno metropolitan area and can provide you with advice and guidance throughout the student discipline process.
Fresno Metro Area Schools
When a student is accused of misconduct and faces disciplinary action from their school, it is important to have an experienced student defense advisor on their side. An advisor can help protect the student's rights in the disciplinary hearing process and ensure that they are treated fairly. The Lento Law Firm has experience representing college, university, and graduate students in disciplinary matters students at educational institutions around the Fresno area, including:
- California State University, Fresno
- Fresno Pacific University
- Clovis Community College
- Fresno City College
- Madera Community College
- Reedley College
- San Joaquin College of Law, Clovis
- West Hills College Coalinga
- California Christian College
- National University, Fresno
In addition to helping college and university students, the Lento Law Firm is also available to assist students in defending themselves from misconduct allegations at grade schools, middle schools, and high schools in every school district in the metropolitan Fresno area, including:
- Clovis Unified School District
- Sanger Unified School District
- Kingsburg Joint Union High School District
- Fowler Unified School District
- Sierra Unified School District
- Kerman Unified School District
- Kings Canyon Joint Unified School District
- Riverdale Joint Unified School District
- Central Unified School District
- Fresno Unified School District
If you are the parent of a younger student, you may have spent tens of thousands of dollars educating your child in private schools. School disciplinary actions can threaten that investment and cost you thousands of dollars. Call the Lento Law Firm if your student is in trouble at any of these or other private schools in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford area:
- Western Christian Academy
- Carden School of Fresno
- Truth Tabernacle Christian School
- Fresno Adventist Academy
- Fresno Christian Schools
- Immanuel Schools
- San Joaquin Memorial High School
- Fresno California Academy
- Sierra View Christian Academy
- Chowchilla Seventh-day Adventist School
- Crossroads Christian School
- Foothill Christian Academy
- Joshua School
- New Testament Baptist School
- St. Rose-McCarthy Catholic School
- Hanford Christian School
Disciplinary Defense in the Fresno Metro Area
School disciplinary actions can take many forms, depending on the educational level of the student, the rules of the institution, and the type of alleged behavior. Students may face disciplinary action for failing to perform academically to their school's standards. They might also face discipline due to misbehavior, cheating, or other offenses. While some students may not think getting into trouble at school is a big deal at first, any student disciplinary action that involves hearings and investigations has the potential to lead to serious consequences. Students in the Fresno-Madera-Hanford area who are facing disciplinary action should retain knowledgeable student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and get help the professional help they need to protect their educational future.
Academic Progression Issues
Pursuing an education is never easy and gets more difficult as a student earns more advanced degrees. For many students who were used to succeeding in school, moving up to the next level of education can take some getting used to. When students cannot complete coursework successfully or have difficulty passing tests, their grades fall, and they may be in danger of discipline for academic progression issues. Educational institutions require their students to maintain a certain grade point average and course load. When they don't, the school may require students to take remedial classes, repeat courses, or find a tutor. If these measures don't improve the student's grades, they may be put on academic probation and are in danger of being dismissed from school.
At the Lento Law Firm, our professional student defense team understands that there are many reasons that students fall behind. If you are facing disciplinary action for academic progression issues, be proactive about getting help. Contact the Lento Law Firm and learn more about how experienced student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento can help you get back on track.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Academic misconduct issues are treated very seriously by every school administration. Academic misconduct is a broad term that refers to any type of cheating or plagiarism. It can also include unauthorized aid, misuse of school materials, and other academic dishonesty. Most schools take academic misconduct very seriously and will punish students who are found guilty of cheating or plagiarism harshly.
The consequences of academic misconduct can be severe, including suspension and expulsion from the school. In most cases, schools will hold a disciplinary hearing to determine if the student is guilty of academic misconduct. In some cases, a student may be able to have an advisor present during the hearing. The advisor can help protect the student's rights in the hearing process and ensure that they are treated fairly. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has years of experience assisting students in academic misconduct hearings and can provide you with advice and guidance throughout the process
Behavioral Misconduct Issues
Many people only think of student discipline as pertaining to academic misconduct, such as cheating or plagiarism. However, student behavioral misconduct is also a common reason for disciplinary action by high schools and universities. Most schools have a student code of conduct that sets out the rules and regulations that students are expected to follow. Violating these rules can lead to disciplinary action by the school, which can include suspension or expulsion. For instance, Fresno Pacific University's student handbook has a section that explains the university's values and how those values affect their expectations for student behavior.
There is a wide variety of student code of conduct violations, and each school has its own list of offenses that can lead to disciplinary action. Some of the most common student code of conduct violations include:
- Fighting or verbal altercations
- Drug and alcohol offenses
- Theft or vandalism
- Disruptive behavior
The consequences of violating the student code of conduct can be harsh and may include suspension or expulsion from school. In some cases, a student may be able to have an advisor present during the disciplinary hearing. The advisor can help protect the student's rights in the hearing process and ensure that they are treated fairly. Attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has years of experience assisting students in disciplinary hearings and can provide you with advice and guidance throughout the process.
Title IX Sexual Misconduct Issues
One of the most serious ways that students in Fresno can get into trouble at school is to run afoul of Title IX regulations. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in schools that receive federal funding. Title IX is often associated with student sexual misconduct, such as sexual harassment, dating violence, and stalking. There are a wide variety of Title IX offenses, and each school has its own list of offenses that can lead to punishment.
Schools that fail to punish Title IX violations risk losing their federal funding. As a result, investigations into Title IX violations can often be intense and overwhelming. In order to protect your rights in a Title IX hearing, it is important to have an experienced student defense advisor on your side. Title IX attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has represented hundreds of students in Title IX hearings and can help you protect both your rights and your reputation.
School Discipline Defense Attorney-Advisor Value
Being accused of academic or behavioral misconduct can be a blow to any student's educational aspirations and future career dreams. If you or your child is facing these accusations in the Fresno metropolitan area, it is important to have an experienced legal advocate on your side who can help you make a plan for your defense, work with the school administration, and negotiate on your behalf. Leading student defense attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento has over a decade of experience handling these types of cases, and he knows what it takes to get the best possible outcome for his clients. Call 888-535-3628 today and learn more about how the Lento Law Firm can help you.
