Has your school's recent merger had an impact on your child?

What about an upcoming closure? If you're worried that your student may experience a disruption in their education because of these types of complex logistical situations, your instincts may be good: Recently, former Mills College students received a $1.25 million settlement involving the merger of Mills College and Northeastern University.

The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team is here to help you advocate for your student's rights through mergers, closures, and other tough situations. Call 888.535.3686 today or fill out this brief form to get our team on the case.

The Significant Impact School Mergers and Closures Have On Students

When schools combine and close, that can have monumental effects on the students who attend those institutions, but those effects are often relegated to administrative afterthoughts—if they're considered at all.

For example, when these changes occur, they can lead to:

• Disruption of a student's academic continuity. After a school closes or combines with another, that can result in changes in a student's curriculum, their teachers, and the resources they have access to. This can impact your student's ability to learn.
• Emotional and social disruptions. Your student may have formed a strong connection to their specific academic environment. Even if your student will continue to attend school in the same building, or if they'll retain the same teacher, if a merger has changed enough about their experience, your student may still experience a sense of disorientation or loss that can affect their well-being.
• Logistical challenges. After a merger or closure, your student may need to adapt to a new schedule, navigate a longer commute, or become comfortable with a different set of school policies or a new school culture. Even if your student is emotionally okay with this, it can still take a lot of time and energy that could detract from your student's academic experience.
• Access and equity issues. Unfortunately, closures and mergers can affect marginalized communities disproportionately. This can make it more difficult for some populations of students to access the education and resources they deserve.

At the Lento Law Firm, we understand just how stressful and frustrating school closures and mergers can be for students. Even if a merger is promised to be beneficial, students can find that their academic experience isn't better for them, specifically—which isn't something that any student deserves.

If you believe that your student's educational path has been altered because of decisions your school has made, you need to make sure that your student's rights aren't steamrolled in the process.

In need of assistance? When your school undergoes a merger, and you feel like your child could be getting a poor deal in the bargain, contact the Lento Law Firm by calling 888.535.3686 or by filling out this brief form to tell us more about your case.