In April of 2024, the Department of Education approved New Title IX rules, which are scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2024. Our firm is closely monitoring ongoing challenges to these new rules in court, and is working hard to provide you the most up-to-date information. Click here to learn about the current state of Title IX and how we can help if you are facing accusations.
Academic careers may endure from kindergarten to high school graduation but often last much longer. There are countless educational concentrations and degree programs students of all ages may choose to work toward. Still, one constant is parents' dedication to their children to help them succeed. Even though students are tasked to become more independent throughout their academic years, parents provide a valuable safety net when plans go awry.
There is no question that standardized tests, group projects, and lengthy reports challenge students to prepare them for adult work life, but sometimes they may fall into situations wherein book knowledge doesn't apply. The trials of adolescence, peer pressure, and family emergencies can cause students to run afoul of extensive rules and guidelines governing academic progress and behavior. While parents may believe their child's school has their best interest at heart, that isn't the case.
K-12 schools, institutions of higher education, and other vocational training programs must maintain state and federal accreditation as well as a pristine public perception. Therefore, violations are not tolerated and are characteristically handled promptly and occasionally hastily. Infractions that were once handled on a case-by-case basis through mutual dialogue and positive-minded remediation are now frequent foundations for being removed from the school in programs regulated under zero-tolerance disciplinary policies.
Parents in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area may not have the negotiation tactics required to advise or arbitrate on behalf of their children with unforgiving school disciplinary boards. Consequently, it's essential to know that when a school disciplines your child unfairly, you can retain professional assistance and ensure their education remains intact. Joseph D. Lento has proven experience advocating for students' rights against disciplinary boards that seek only to safeguard their reputations. He and his team at the Lento Law Firm understand the nuances of school discipline defense strategy and have the utmost empathy for diligent students threatened by alleged misconduct.
Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area
The seven-county region anchored in Oklahoma's capital city is part of the Midwest's burgeoning I-35 Megalopolis. Graduating from one of the premier programs in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area is a landmark achievement. Yet, the consequences of school sanctions can derail your chance of attending one of the many collegiate, graduate, or professional education programs in the area. Moreover, discipline can keep you from getting hired to work in highly-valued occupations.
You need an advisor familiar with the area and able to negotiate with the school administration to get your child back in class and focused on their studies. Student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento is no stranger to the Oklahoma City metropolitan area and its suburbs, including:
- Bethany
- Chandler
- Chickasha
- Choctaw
- Edmond
- Guthrie
- Harrah
- Kingfisher
- Langston
- Moore
- Newcastle
- Nichols Hills
- Nicoma Park
- Oklahoma City
- Shawnee
- Spencer
- Stillwater
- The Village
- Yukon
Parents and their student children can rest with relief when Joseph D. Lento is guiding them through one of the most challenging times in their lives. Whether your middle school son or daughter faces out-of-school suspension or you're a medical student facing a demanding remediation program, Joseph D. Lento and his team at the Lento Law Firm can help.
Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Student Concerns
Students attending one of the hundreds of schools and educational programs in the Oklahoma metropolitan area must overcome many obstacles. While teenagers and young adults are presented with academic, behavioral, or interpersonal challenges in the halls of the school, there may be encounters with conflicts of interest, prejudice, and faculty or staff creating their own policies outside official procedures.
Additionally, the wide range of state and federal funding streams require students to obey supplementary rules often hidden in legalese. Parents shouldn't have to hire a professional student defense advisor to make sense of a school's rules, but when your child's future is on the line, it's the only way to guarantee their rights are upheld.
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team know how to address these particular concerns of Oklahoma City metropolitan area students. Whether the allegations are academic, behavioral, or otherwise, they will shield you from relegation as a simple punitive statistic.
Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area Schools
No matter what grade, program level, or degree concentration your child is enrolled in, premier student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm are readily available to provide a strong defense. For example, dependable representation can be had at the following colleges and universities:
- Mid-America Christian University
- Oklahoma Christian University
- Oklahoma City University
- Oklahoma State University
- Randall University
- Southern Nazarene University
- Southwestern Christian University
- University of Central Oklahoma
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team are available to effectively represent students in K-12 programs in metro area school districts, including:
- Agra Public Schools
- Alex Public Schools
- Amber-Pocasset Public Schools
- Bridge Creek Public Schools
- Calumet Public Schools
- Carney Public Schools
- Chandler Public Schools
- Coyle Public Schools
- Crescent Public Schools
- Darlington Public Schools
- Davenport Public Schools
- El Reno Public Schools
- Guthrie Public Schools
- Harrah Public Schools
- Lexington Public Schools
- Little Axe Public Schools
- Meeker Public Schools
- Moore Public Schools
- Mulhall-Orlando Public Schools
- Norman Public Schools
- Mustang Public Schools
- Oklahoma City Public Schools
- Piedmont Public Schools
- Prague Public Schools
- Riverside Public Schools
- Rush Springs Public Schools
- Union City Public Schools
- Verden Public Schools
- Yukon Public Schools
- Washington Public Schools
- Wayne Public Schools
Students in private elementary and secondary schools across the Oklahoma City metropolitan area can also retain the help of student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team at the Lento Law Firm, including those attending:
- The Academy of Classical Christian Studies
- All Saints Catholic School
- Antioch Christian Academy
- Bishop John Carroll School
- Canadian Valley Christian Academy
- Casady School
- Crossings Christian School
- Destiny Christian School
- Heritage Hall
- Holy Trinity Lutheran School
- Life Christian Academy
- Mercy School Institute
- Messiah Lutheran School
- Oklahoma Christian School
- Oklahoma Islamic Academy
- Parkview Adventist Academy
- Redbud Farm and Christian School
- Rosary School
- Southwind Montessori School
- St. Mary's Episcopal School
- St. Sophia Classical Academy
- Trinity Lutheran School
Disciplinary Defense in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Area
While there are near-countless rules and regulations governing K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other professional education programs, most misconduct is divided into three categories:
- Academic misconduct
- Non-academic misconduct
- Title IX and sexual misconduct
Each institution must maintain its own mission, vision, and core values. The code of conduct—also known as an honor code or student handbook—will outline violations, investigations, hearings, appeals procedures, and sanctions. As a parent, this is your first line of defense in helping your child. Your children will be instructed on the school's code of conduct during matriculation; therefore, ignorance is not an effective defense strategy. You and your student defense advisor will scrutinize the code to ensure the school is adhering to its disciplinary policies when allegations arise.
Academic Progression Issues
Schools expect quantitative and qualitative progress from students. Since academics are the cornerstone of any education program, they will address situations when students fail assignments or fall behind in their journey toward graduation.
Federal financial obligations require students to maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy. Every school will have a SAP policy with achievement objectives throughout the program's duration. For example, Oklahoma State University has minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) thresholds, completion ratio measurement, and maximum eligibility timeframe. There are also graduation requirements for primary and secondary schools. Typically, these involve proficient standardized test scores, a minimum GPA, and community service requirements overseen by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (SDEOK).
Violations of SAP guidelines are initially addressed with academic probation, which puts students in stressful remedial situations to improve their grades in a short timeframe. Failure to elevate grades or an additional probationary period within a few semesters can quickly lead to suspension and expulsion. Still, school administrations sometimes abuse their policies and ignore a student's extenuating circumstances.
Appealing academic discipline is possible, but parents and their student children aren't prepared to bargain with a dean of students, principal, or academic advisory office. Fortunately, Joseph D. Lento can represent you or your child in these matters or even educate you on how to deliver a solid argument to defeat academic sanctions.
Academic Misconduct Issues
Academic integrity is one of the most critical factors in any educational program. Schools in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area include various rules prohibiting dishonesty in their codes of conduct, like those at Amber-Pocasset Public Schools, Southern Nazarene University, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
These include but are not limited to:
- Bribery
- Cheating
- Fabrication
- Fraud
- Plagiarism
- Unauthorized possession of school materials
Academic dishonesty undermines the learning process. Institutions equitably punish those who subvert school guidelines, but disciplinary boards may act excessively or on unsubstantiated information. Instructors may also mischaracterize individual students for acts they didn't commit. Even if an action may appear as an infraction, it must be handled justly, but sometimes schools are quick to overreact.
Non-Academic Misconduct Issues
Institutions are tasked with maintaining an orderly academic and social environment on campus and in any school-sponsored events. While violent acts, attendance issues, and violating substance abuse policies will likely lead to suspension or expulsion, any action that disrupts the learning atmosphere will garner correction.
For example, the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) has policies prohibiting various items and behaviors. Students may be charged with misconduct if they engage in:
- Abuse of the Student Accountability and Conflict Resolution system
- Breaches to the UCO Campus Expression Policy
- Disorderly conduct
- Distribution or attempted distribution of alcohol
- Disturbing the peace
- Failure to comply with university officials
- False reporting
- Gambling
- Network Usage Policy or Security Policy violations
- Obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic
- Theft
- Unlawful use or possession of federally controlled substances
- Weapons possession
Although there are many prohibitions, administration officials can act and levy sanctions disproportionate to what violations occurred. Non-academic misconduct charges can ruin a student's reputation and label them a delinquent, causing them even more obstacles to overcome to obtain their education and preferred career.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
Title IX regulations compel schools receiving federal funding to address instances of sexual misconduct swiftly and harshly. Every institution, from elementary school to post-doctoral programs, will have a Title IX coordinator that oversees the grievance process and manages its investigative, hearing, sanctioning, and appeals stages.
According to the University of Oklahoma and its Equal Opportunity (EO) and Title IX policies, the following are violations:
- Dating/Domestic violence
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Retaliation
- Sexual abuse, harassment, misconduct
- Stalking
The process at K-12 programs differs slightly from those at colleges and universities. For instance, like other primary and secondary schools, Oklahoma City Public Schools have optional live hearings and parental involvement during the proceedings.
How a Professional Student Defense Advisor Can Help You
You may believe hiring a local lawyer is your best bet in protecting your child's opportunity to obtain a high school diploma or fight remediation demands in graduate programs. However, attorneys typically threaten expensive lawsuits against the school, and while a formal suit is a possible course of action, litigation is seldom needed. Moreover, courtroom competency fails to translate into the finesse required to negotiate with school administration officials.
The goal for students and their supportive parents should be prompt and pressure-free peace from unwarranted disciplinary action, not legal proceedings. Joseph D. Lento has built and maintained relationships with members of numerous schools' Office of General Counsel (OGC). Therefore, he can broker beneficial resolutions on behalf of students outside formal hearings. Even if you cannot have representation present with you during the grievance process, Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm can endow you with the knowledge and techniques to defend yourself against severe punishments. Call 888-535-3686 today or visit the confidential online consultation form.
