Education

All men, women, and children should be treated with dignity and respect.  Sadly, this is not always the case; some children experience and endure bullying.  There are zero tolerance policies for bullying in many schools, but not all schools deal with bullying effectively. Bullying zero tolerance is a term referring to anti-bullying policies, laws, and…

In the previous weeks, Perry A. Craft settled two lawsuits against institutions of higher learning. The suits asserted that the colleges had discriminated against students, questioned the process for dismissals, or raised issues with the honor code processor. In a separate matter, at a yet different college, students were accused of violating the honor code.…

Colleges and universities often have honor codes. These honor codes typically require students not to give or receive aid on tests, exams, papers, or assignments – or in other words, not to cheat. They may carry other requirements regarding student conduct or behavior. The honor code is typically explained when a student starts college, and…

Schools in the state of Tennessee and elsewhere have rules and policies. When a student breaks said rules or policies, he or she faces consequences such as suspension and/or expulsion from school. There are procedures governing disciplinary actions imposed upon students, and part of those procedures is a Student Disciplinary Hearing Authority (SDHA), sometimes called…

Certain federal and state laws give rights and protections to individuals with disabilities.  School children with disabilities most often rely upon the federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004, but state statutes also give rights and protections to individuals with disabilities.  The IDEA defines the meaning of the term “disability,” as…

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 2004 ensure that individuals with disabilities do not face discrimination in the workplace, at school, in public, and more. Although the IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act both apply to education and people with disabilities, they are not identical;…

There are several statutes designed to benefit children with disabilities. One such statute is the Handicapped Children’s Protection Act (HCPA) of 1986. A significant win for civil rights and disability advocates, the HCPA builds on the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) of 1975. The EAHCA mandates that public schools receiving financial support from…

Public education is free.  In order for children to effectively learn, schools must be safe, and students are expected to behave.  At times, disruptions occur.  When a student disrupts a classroom, school officials may enforce school rules and discipline the child.   Although corporal punishment was a standard not too long ago, some schools districts forbid…

Not every child learns at the same pace or the same way. Some children learn with ease; others learn slowly or with difficulty.  Federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), however, gives rights to children who have difficulty learning or need special services, and the IDEA dictates that, among other requirements, schools and…