The Education Law Group’s broad range and experience in all facets of education law aids in providing comprehensive legal services to our clients in the areas of School Leadership and Governance, Student Services, Special Education, Employment and Labor Relations, and Title IX matters.
We help clients prevent crises and minimize expense by troubleshooting, training staff and continually updating decision-makers on changes in the law and trends in the education community. Our Education Law attorneys are highly respected locally and nationally and are called on often to speak and offer training throughout the country on current and trending topics impacting the education of children and compliance with school law.
School Leadership and Governance:
Our attorneys counsel school boards and administrators in diverse matters encompassing an array of issues, including general school law matters, labor relations and employment issues, special education, public finance, construction, tax assessment and collection issues, employee benefits and school-related litigation of all kinds. Our attorneys are routinely called upon to help craft, update and interpret board policies and administrative regulations addressing the full range of issues impacting educational institutions. We represent the interests of our clients before arbitrators, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Office for Dispute Resolution, and state and federal courts. While our team has litigated numerous precedent-setting cases on behalf of school districts and intermediate units, we strive to identify problems at their earliest stage and offer effective solutions that will resolve legal problems before they intensify.
Student Services:
We help our clients properly implement applicable provisions of the Pennsylvania School Code, the Family Rights and Educational Privacy Act (FERPA), and all other state and federal laws that govern the operation of schools. We provide our clients with support and guidance on a vast array of student services issues. Such guidance includes, but is limited to, student data privacy, attendance, discrimination, confidentiality of education records, special education, student discipline, and school climate (bullying, hazing, etc.) matters.
Special Education:
We emphasize a proactive approach to special education and other civil rights issues in schools. Understanding the nuances of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other applicable federal law enables us to advise our clients behind the scenes to address issues before they become disputes. We advise our clients on student placement, documentation, IEP implementation and meetings, due process complaints and proceedings, and frequently provide training and professional development to administrators and teaching and support staff about legal requirements and best practices.
Title IX Investigations & Compliance:
Title IX was enacted to promote equity in educational settings. Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination, including sexual violence, sexual harassment, and hostile environment based on sex. All schools receiving federal funds are required to comply with Title IX’s mandates. We assist school entities in responding to Title IX complaints by offering a thorough, objective, and timely investigations into allegations of Title IX violations; training for administrators, educators, and students; review of policies and procedures; and ensuring all state and federal laws are complied with.
Labor & Employment
The Education Law Group provides detailed, effective legal representation and counseling to school district employers on a broad range of matters, including labor and employment. The education group has settled and won an extensive list of employment cases for our school district clients. Whether in need of assistance with contracts and collective bargaining agreements for staff and faculty or with grievance, arbitrations and unfair practice claims, the AYZ education attorneys hold the expertise to handle the situation while keeping the school district’s best interests in mind.
Education Law Attorneys
