Even students at the elementary or middle school level can face serious challenges involving disciplinary charges and misconduct. Parents obviously want their children to thrive and do well academically and socially in school. However, students can face a number of challenges and struggles in school, and these challenges can cause unexpected behavioral changes. Even young students can find themselves being faced with academic or behavioral misconduct charges, and these charges can result in serious sanctions, including dismissal. As a parent or guardian, you have a responsibility to take such issues seriously and use all the resources you can access to help and support your child. Reach out to the Lento Law Firm for help with your case. You can also call us at 888-535-3686.
Minnesota Middle and Elementary School Academic Misconduct Charges
Schools can be particular about discipline and charge even young children in elementary and middle school with misconduct. Any form of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, cheating, unauthorized collaboration on an assignment, passing off someone else's work as one's own, and more, can result in severe sanctions.
Elementary and middle school instructors in Minnesota are authorized to penalize students for any academic dishonesty or misconduct. These penalizations may include an academic warning, removal from class, suspension, or even dismissal.
Minnesota Middle and Elementary School Behavioral Misconduct Charges
Middle and elementary school students in Minnesota may also face behavioral misconduct charges. The Minnesota Education Code lays out rules and prohibited behaviors for middle and elementary school students in Minnesota. Prohibited behaviors include bullying, assault, violence, insubordination, and more. The Minnesota Education Code allows schools to take disciplinary action against students who flout these rules, including sanctions such as reduction in privileges, suspension, or dismissal.
For instance, the Bemidji Area Schools Code of Conduct in Minnesota allows instructors to discipline students for indulging in the following behaviors, whether they have taken place ‘on school property, in a District vehicle, or at a school or district activity or event:
- Physical violence towards others, including physical aggression, assault, fighting, and bullying;
- Weapons possession;
- Sexual violence;
- Verbal/written aggression towards others;
- Insubordinate and disrespectful behavior towards others;
- Refusing to take directions from someone in authority;
- Damage or destruction to school or personal property.
Indulging in any of these behaviors, or even being suspected of having indulged in these behaviors, may lead to a student being faced with suspension or dismissal.
Minnesota Middle and Elementary School Academic Progression Issues
Academic progression issues may also land your student in trouble, even if they are only in elementary school. K-12 schools in Minnesota have academic standards to uphold and may penalize your student for failing to match up to these standards.
Minnesota Statutes define what an academic standard and benchmarks are. These standards are revised on a 10-year schedule. According to the Department of Education, ‘All students, including students with unique learning needs, must meet the credit requirements and satisfactorily complete all state and local standards to graduate.'
Falling short of the credit requirements or grades needed, excessive absences or truancies, disruptive behavior in class, failing to follow instructions, or failing to bring any supplies or materials required by teachers may result in your student being faced with academic progression issues. Schools are allowed to take disciplinary sanctions against your student for facing academic progression issues and may even prevent them from progressing to the next grade.
Minnesota Middle and Elementary School Disability Issues
Students in Minnesota may also face issues involving the disability accommodations schools are required to follow under state and federal law. Like everywhere else in the US, Minnesota schools are required to abide by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensure every student has access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).
As per IDEA, schools are required to educate students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Additionally:
- Schools may not cut off access to educational services for a student with disabilities owing to disciplinary reasons.
- Students with disabilities must participate in state and district-wide assessments
- School districts must provide disabled children with related services, including any supportive services required for a student with disabilities to benefit from special education.
Minnesota Education Attorney Services
If your student is facing any issues involving education law, The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team can support them while they face these challenges. With a team of accomplished education law attorneys and years of experience defending students, the Lento Law Firm can help ensure your student is treated fairly and their rights under state and federal law are upheld.
The Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help you make sense of the charges faced by your student, the procedure and hearings they are entitled to, and the ways in which you can present evidence to exonerate them. Students have certain rights under state and federal law, but schools cannot always be trusted to uphold these rights or treat students fairly. Having a team of education law attorneys to assist you can ensure that your student gets access to the procedural safeguards they are entitled to and is heard and evaluated fairly.
Where the Lento Law Firm Team Can Help
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team can assist you and your student in cases involving education law nationwide, including across Minnesota. The attorney advisors on the Student Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can represent and defend your elementary or middle school student at the following locations.
Student Defense in Southern Minnesota School Districts
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is available across Southern Minnesota from the Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial School District to the Comfrey Public School District, Fairmont Area School District, Glencoe-Silver Lake School District, Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian Public School District, and all other school districts in Southern Minnesota.
Student Defense in Central Minnesota School Districts
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is available across Central Minnesota from the International Falls School District to the South Koochiching School District, Littlefork-Big Falls School District, and other school districts in Central Minnesota.
Student Defense in Northern Minnesota
The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team is available across Northern Minnesota from the Ashby Public School District to the Herman-Norcross Public School District, Heron Lake-Okabena Public School District, Hendricks Public School District, Lakeview School District, Grygla School Districts, and other school districts in North Minnesota.
Premier Minnesota Education Attorneys
Wherever your student studies in Minnesota, the Lento Law Firm's Education Law Team of premier and successful education attorneys can help them contend with challenges involving education law, with years of experience defending students nationwide, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has the experience and know-how required to defend your student successfully and obtain the best possible outcome in their case.
Call 888.535.3686 for a consultation, or use this contact form to get in touch with the skilled attorneys at the Lento Law Firm.
