With its relatively low cost of living and natural beauty, Arkansas has plenty to offer families. That includes its education system, which has worked hard in recent years to ensure equal access for all children. However, whether you're the parent of a public school student in Bentonville or a college student attending the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, issues can arise. When that happens, it's important to understand your rights and how to fight for them.
The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team helps families and students throughout Arkansas navigate the state's education system. Our firm focuses on more than disciplinary cases. We can help parents ensure their students have the accommodations and protections they require. If you need legal help with a school in Arkansas, give us a call at 888-535-3686 or fill out our confidential contact form.
Special Education and Disability Rights in Arkansas
Parents of children with disabilities can face an uphill battle when trying to get the support they need. Schools in Arkansas are required to comply with federal laws, including:
- The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA): This program entitles eligible children to a Free Appropriate Public Education, typically supported through something called an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: This federal law supports students who don't qualify for IDEA. For instance, a student with ADHD who attends Bentonville High School may need accommodations like extra time on tests.
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): This law protects individuals with disabilities against discrimination.
Unfortunately, all the paperwork in the world won't guarantee a fair education. Whether you're in the Springdale or Valley View school district, you may struggle to get assessments, tailored services, or IEP updates for various reasons.
When that happens, the Lento Law Firm is here to help. We make sure Arkansas' public schools follow federal laws and respond to requests for accommodations when appropriate. We can help challenge inadequate services, appeal denied evaluations, and request due processing hearings.
IEPs and 504 Plans: How Our Arkansas Education Lawyers Help
When followed closely, IEPs and 504 Plans can be powerful tools, but only when drafted correctly. A vague IEP can leave wiggle room for schools, making it tough to enforce.
Even when drafted correctly, though, school systems like Rogers or Little Rock can have a tough time following these plans. Larger districts are often overwhelmed, with multiple plans to juggle. Our team can help with:
- Reviewing and interpreting IEPs and 504 Plans
- Preparing for IEP meetings where you'll advocate for appropriate services
- Negotiating revisions to your IEPs and 504 Plans when necessary
- Filing complaints with the Arkansas Department of Education if the plans are not followed
Our help isn't limited to K-12 schools. We also help students at the university level, where requests for accommodations are sometimes denied. When that happens, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help you assert your rights under the ADA to get the accommodations you need.
Discipline and Expulsion Proceedings in Arkansas Schools
From Fayetteville to Lake Village, disciplinary action is an unavoidable part of running a school. This is the case in any state, but in Arkansas, school districts must provide due process before making any disciplinary decisions. That includes:
- Involving parents, students, and school district personnel in the process of creating disciplinary guidelines.
- Conducting an annual review of those disciplinary guidelines.
- Prescribing minimum and maximum penalties for each offense.
- Establishing procedures for notifying students and their parents of disciplinary charges, hearings, and other due process proceedings.
- Making school disciplinary policies accessible to students and their parents.
- Training teachers and faculty on appropriately handling conduct infractions.
Unfortunately, as well-intentioned as officials may be, schools don't always follow policies when disciplining students. You may receive a vague letter about misbehavior, or your disciplinary hearing could be rushed. When that happens, it's important to understand your rights.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help with:
- Explaining your school's code of conduct
- Preparing for suspension or expulsion hearings
- Challenging long-term suspensions or expulsions based on insufficient evidence
- Ensuring that students with disabilities are not unfairly punished
At the college level, we can work directly with students accused of academic or conduct code violations. We do our best to ensure a student's record isn't permanently impacted by any disciplinary action.
Bullying and Harassment: A Growing Concern in Arkansas Schools
Arkansas schools have seen bullying incidents double since the 2020-21 school year, despite the state taking one of the strongest stances in the country. Districts must establish a definition of bullying, and the state board must review every district's anti-bullying policy. But despite that stance, bullying remains an issue.
Whether your student is being physically targeted in the hallways of a Northwest Arkansas middle school or suffering sexual harassment at Arkansas State University, protections are in place. One of those protections is Title IX, which mandates that schools respond promptly to reports of sexual harassment or assault.
The Lento Law Firm Education Law Team has extensive experience with Title IX complaints and bullying and can assist in the following ways:
- Helping you understand the protections that apply
- Filing Title IX complaints
- Demanding measures to protect affected students, including changes in student placement when necessary
- Pursuing complaints through the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights
When bullying is based on race, disability, gender identity, religion, or other areas protected by federal civil rights laws, additional protections apply. If you or your child is being harassed at an Arkansas university or K-12 school, we can step in to ensure your rights are protected.
Discrimination in Arkansas Schools and Universities
Discrimination remains an issue in schools across the country. That includes Arkansas, where students may experience unequal access to resources, biased grading practices, or refusal to honor disability accommodation requests.
The Lento Law Firm Team has extensive experience in helping students facing discrimination. We help with:
- Racial discrimination in disciplinary action or classroom treatment
- Gender-based discrimination in sports, grading, or admissions
- Disability discrimination in access to resources or extracurricular activities
In addition to K-12 students, we also represent university students. We help students who are experiencing discrimination in housing, admissions, and disciplinary action. In many of these cases, students qualify for protections under Title IX or the ADA, and our familiarity with those laws can make a big difference.
Protecting Student Free Speech in Arkansas
Students don't lose their constitutional rights when they enter a classroom in Arkansas. Those rights include freedom of speech and the right to protest. Some of the conflicts we see include:
- Dress codes that disproportionately affect female students
- Restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression
- Student newspapers or clubs being shut down for controversial content
- Disciplinary action over peaceful protests
Federal law protects a student's right to free speech, but it does come with limitations. A Supreme Court ruling affirmed that schools can only limit student speech if it causes a material disruption to the learning environment.
Teacher Misconduct in Arkansas
Arkansas has some of the best teachers in the country, but every state has an occasional issue. Arkansas is no exception. Cases of teacher misconduct can include allegations of inappropriate relationships, verbal abuse, or neglect. When that happens, it can be difficult for families to know where to turn.
Our firm helps students and their parents:
- Gather evidence that can be presented to leadership
- Report misconduct to school leaders
- Escalate reports to the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Arkansas Division of Higher Education
- Navigate Title IX processes when misconduct involves sexual harassment or assault
- Seek protective orders when necessary
In many cases, Arkansas schools will handle complaints quickly. However, when a school fails to respond appropriately, we can work to demand accountability. Our goal is to help keep students safe while also ensuring systemic issues are addressed to protect other students moving forward.
Higher Education Issues in Arkansas: Beyond the Classroom
Arkansas features a robust higher education presence, with schools like the University of Arkansas, Arkansas Tech University, and Henderson State University serving thousands of students each year. With this comes legal concerns that extend beyond academics.
Our firm helps students with:
- Residency disputes
- Misconduct hearings
- Discrimination in extracurricular participation
- Hazing accusations
- Title IX investigations and hearings
We also help with academic-related issues, including grade appeals, academic integrity accusations, and denial of graduation or degree.
Higher education law can be complex because each institution has its own policies, and all those policies must comply with federal law. We not only ensure your school is compliant, but we also help you navigate your school's specific processes.
Parental Rights and School Transparency in Arkansas
As a parent, you have a vested interest in your child's education. But unfortunately, full transparency from schools is not always guaranteed. Whether you're having difficulty accessing your child's school records or nobody's informing you about important policy changes, you may find that you need legal help to ensure your voice is heard.
The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has worked to help parents and students get the support they need. We assist with:
- Accessing education records under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
- Challenging school decisions through administrative processes
- Advocating for meaningful parent participation in IEP meetings and academic planning
- Ensuring parents receive timely notification of important information
Enrollment Disputes and School Choice Options in Arkansas
Arkansas law allows parents of K-12 students to choose a school outside their district. To do this, though, parents have to apply and be approved. Families may be denied based on questionable criteria, or they may face other barriers.
Our firm supports Arkansas families experiencing:
- School district boundary disputes
- Open enrollment denials
- Charter school application issues
- Disputes over homeschooling registration or compliance
We've found that these disputes often arise in suburban areas, where attendance at certain schools can be very competitive. We work with students to ensure they receive the opportunities they're entitled to under Arkansas' current education policies.
Disciplinary Appeals in Arkansas
Whether a student is a sixth grader at Pinnacle View Middle in Little Rock or a freshman at the University of Central Arkansas, disciplinary action can have lifelong consequences. If your child has been suspended, expelled, or issued a lesser penalty that will result in a mark on their public record, you have the right to know when, where, and how to appeal.
The Lento Law Firm Team helps families and students by:
- Drafting persuasive appeal letters and documentation
- Reviewing disciplinary orders for procedural errors or inconsistencies
- Ensuring disciplinary action is compliant with federal and state laws
- Helping families prepare for appeal hearings
Typically, families get only one chance at an appeal, at which point all decisions are final. An appeal can be crucial in reducing penalties, clearing a student's record, and ensuring that decisions are based on factual evidence. We help protect Arkansas students by fighting for fairness and transparency in school disciplinary processes.
Why Choose the Lento Law Firm for Arkansas Education Law Cases?
Education law requires an understanding of both school processes and federal and state protections. What sets the Lento Law Firm apart is that we tailor our approach to each client, working hard to advocate for accommodations and fight back against unfair disciplinary action.
When you work with the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team, you don't get a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, we work with each family to understand their goals and how they relate to school policies. We can take legal action when necessary, but in many cases, we're able to resolve things by working directly with school administrators.
We're proud to represent Arkansas families. Whether you live in Fayetteville, Little Rock, Jonesborough, Hot Springs, or one of the many other cities and small towns in the Natural State, we can help. We'll work hard to make sure your student gets the respect they deserve.
Get in Touch With Us Today
From disability accommodations to discrimination and bullying, the Lento Law Firm Education Law Team stands ready to protect students and their families. Our goal is to advocate for students to ensure they have fair and equal access to education in a safe environment.
If you're facing issues with a school in Arkansas, whether at the K-12 or college level, we can help. Contact our team at 888-535-3686 or by completing this confidential contact form.
