High schools require their students to follow codes of conduct, whether it's public or private school. These rules can often extend far outside the classroom, landing students in trouble for events that happen at weekend sleepovers or during summer vacation. When schools try to impose their authority without respecting due process, however, they're trampling on students' rights.

If your child is about to be expelled or removed from school, you should call the Lento Law Firm's Student Discipline Defense Team. We can help you stand up for your child against their school administrators and ensure they get a fair process. Call 888-535-3686 or send us your information via our online form.

Expelled Students Get Compensated for Botched Due Process

In 2020, two high school students at Saint Francis High School, a private high school in Mountain View, California, were expelled without a hearing for allegedly circulating a photo of themselves wearing blackface. In reality, the photo showed the two students wearing green acne facial masks that were interpreted as blackface. When the photo got out, at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, the students quickly became “poster children” for racism. The school informed them that they would have to either voluntarily leave or be expelled the summer before what was to be their senior year.

The students, who are now 21, and their parents sued the school, the president, and a parent of one of the students. After a drawn-out lawsuit, the jury awarded each former student $500,000 and a tuition reimbursement totaling about $70,000. The two students claimed that they were given unfair due process when they were expelled and had to resort to legal action against the school to get justice.

Due Process at Public and Private Schools

Public schools are bound by federal law to give students a hearing and a chance to defend themselves before they are expelled. Private schools like Saint Francis High School, however, don't have this requirement. However, they do have to respect contracts entered into with students. Most private schools ask students to sign a behavior contract that states their rights and responsibilities. If the private school doesn't uphold its end of the contract, students can take legal action.

What to Do If Your School Doesn't Give You a Hearing

If your child is facing expulsion from school and hasn't been given a chance to present arguments in their favor or to have the reasons for their pending expulsion formally stated to them, you should contact our Student Discipline Defense Team. We can provide the legal support you need to stand up to the school's administration and ensure your child's rights are protected.

Call our offices today at 888-535-3686 or send us your case information using our contact form, and a member of our team will reach out to you. At the Lento Law Firm, we're ready to help you stand up for your child's right to an education.