School Law Boot Camp

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Key Laws to Know
   10:00 - 10:45, Rebecca Heaton Hall
   1. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
   2. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
   3. Individuals With Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA)
   4. Educator Code of Professional Conduct
   5. Public Records Law
   6. Other Critical Laws You Need to Know
2. COVID-19's Impact on Education: Teacher Shortages, Student Mental Health Concerns, Virtual Learning, and Beyond
   10:45 - 11:30, Rebecca Heaton Hall
3. Special Education Law 101
   11:45 - 12:15, John Whitbeck
   1. Determining When an Evaluation Is Necessary
   2. Differentiating IEPs vs. 504 Plans
   3. 504 Plan Eligibility, Accommodation, and Documentation Best Practices
   4. Best Practices for Developing Legally Compliant IEPs
   5. Placement Issues
   6. Transition Services
   7. English Language Learners (ELLs) and Special Education
   8. Recent Developments in Special Education Law
4. Student Discipline: Ensuring Compliance With Federal and State Laws
   12:15 - 1:00, Frederick M. Stanczak
   1. Student Constitutional Rights and Relevant Statutes
   2. Short-Term Suspensions, Long-Term Suspension, and Expulsions: Legal Best Practices
   3. Addressing Student Bullying, Discrimination, and Harassment: Legal Essentials
   4. When Students With Disabilities Are the Aggressors or Victims: Key Steps to Take
   5. Disciplining Students for School Avoidance and Truancy
   6. Documenting School Disciplinary Actions: Legal Best Practices
5. Social Media and School Law: Policy Drafting Essentials, Privacy Considerations, etc.
   1:30 - 2:15, Frederick M. Stanczak
6. Title IX: Understanding the New Process and Implementing It in the K-12 Environment
   2:15 - 3:15, Rachel M. Reight
7. Case Law Update and Recent Trends
   3:30 - 4:00, John Whitbeck
8. Legal Ethics
   4:00 - 5:00, Cari L. Sheehan
   1. Confidentiality
   2. Attorneys' Fees
   3. Conflicts of Interest
   4. Ethical Concerns in Working With or Against Minors

Accreditation Details:

Rebecca Heaton Hall is the director of legal consulting at PREVAIL Educational Solutions and a school solicitor at Weiss Burkardt Kramer LLC. Ms. Heaton Hall promotes social and emotional learning and sound structures for preventative behavior supports in schools. Her work with schools focuses on legally sound, cost-effective, and practical approaches that can be sustained over time to advance positive outcomes for students, teachers, and school administrators. Ms. Heaton Hall's advocacy efforts have been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally. While her current focus is assisting schools, she has a diverse background and extensive experience working directly with children and parents. Ms. Heaton Hall has served as guardian ad litem or legal counsel to approximately 2,000 children with complex needs, and has served as a surrogate parent to numerous special education students. For her work in special education matters, she is a past recipient of the Achieva Excellence in Advocacy Award and an honoree for the Leading Education and Advocacy for Families Award. Ms. Heaton Hall and Jessica Dirsmith have lectured and written extensively on their vision of comprehensive social, emotional, and behavioral supports for children. She earned her B.S. degree, cum laude, from West Liberty State University and her J.D. degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Rachel M. Reight is a partner with Baasten, McKinley & Co., L.P.A. Ms. Reight practices in the areas of labor and employment law, administrative law (State Employment Relations Board, Ohio Department of Education, & children services investigations), workers' compensation, and defense of teachers and associations. Ms. Reight is a frequent speaker at workshops for public educators, school employees, and county developmental disabilities board employees in Cuyahoga, Lorain, and Summit counties. She is a member of Ohio State and Stark County (Disputed Fee Committee) bar associations. Ms. Reight received her B.A. degree from The Ohio State University and earned her J.D. degree from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Cari L. Sheehan is an assistant clinical professor of business law and ethics with the IU Kelley School of Business - Indianapolis, where she teaches courses in business law and ethics. In addition, Ms. Sheehan teaches courses at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law - Indianapolis, including Torts and Appellate Practice and Procedure. Ms. Sheehan graduated, cum laude, from the University of Southern Indiana with a B.A. degree; and earned her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. Prior to joining the faculty at the IU Kelley School of Business - Indianapolis, Ms. Sheehan worked as a professional responsibility attorney at Barnes & Thornburg, LLP in its Indianapolis office. Ms. Sheehan's practice focused on various legal ethics and professional responsibility issues. In addition, she worked as an adjunct professor at Butler University in the Lacy School of Business. Ms. Sheehan is admitted to practice in Indiana and Illinois. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Indiana, U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern districts of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Indiana and Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Frederick M. Stanczak is an attorney with offices located in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Stanczak represents children and their families in cases arising under the IDEA, 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and other laws pertaining to the provision of public education. He also provides legal representation in guardianship and estate planning for persons with disabilities and their families. Prior to starting a private practice, Mr. Stanczak was employed by the Education Law Center in Philadelphia, where he was responsible for litigation, legislative advocacy, and working with community groups on issues affecting the education of children in Pennsylvania. He earned his B.A. degree from St. Norbert College and his J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law, Chicago.

 

John Whitbeck is the founder and majority shareholder with Whitbeck Bennett in Leesburg, Virginia. He focuses his practice on family law, criminal law, mental health law, civil litigation, and many other areas. He has also been certified as an expert witness in litigation. Mr. Whitbeck is an adjunct professor of law at George Mason University Law School teaching mental illness law; and is the director of the George Mason University Law and Mental Illness Clinic. He has served as substitute judge in Virginia District courts, hearing civil and criminal matters, including family law cases. Mr. Whitbeck also served as a special justice for civil commitment hearings in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit as well, which requires him to sit as a "judge" for hearings to commit mentally ill individuals to psychiatric treatment. He has also served as a special prosecutor in the Loudoun County General District courts. Mr. Whitbeck earned his A.B. degree from Occidental College and his J.D. degree, cum laude, from George Mason University-Antonin Scalia Law School.