Parents' Rights
Education Law and Parents' Rights
Mary Angela Shaughnessy, SCN — Louisville, Kentucky
At a minimum, public and private school students alike have the right to receive an adequate education and the right to be treated with dignity while receiving that education. Parents' rights include the right to have their children receive these two things and the right to seek appropriate remedies.
In my practice as a lawyer, I provide legal representation in Kentucky as well as mediation, advocacy and consulting services nationwide to parties on all sides of disputes involving parents' rights.
Please call or contact me online.
When Parents' Rights are at Issue
Has there been a failure to make reasonable accommodations for a child with special needs? Have there been departures from handbook policies? Has discrimination based on race, religion, gender, national origin or disability occurred? What constitutional and due process rights may have been violated? Have there been any violations of state statutes? Have you tried to volunteer at the school but been denied?
If you suspect that the answer to any of these questions is "yes" — you probably have questions about what your rights as a parent are as well. Although there are some major differences between parents' rights in public schools versus private ones, generally speaking, your rights as a parent may also include:
- The right to visit their child's classroom to observe activities (usually must be arranged in advance)
- The right to request conferences with their child's teacher(s) or the principal
- The right to volunteer time and resources for the improvement of school
- The right to be notified of their child's performance on standardized tests
- The right to know the school's ranking on standardized tests
- The right to request that their child be enrolled in any public school in the district or change schools (may be denied)
- The right to a safe and supportive learning environment for their child
- The right to review the curriculum materials of the class or classes in which their child is enrolled
Legal Information, Co-Counsel and Expert Witness
Services Provided Nationwide — 502-442-2396
If you're interested in the knowledge and unique perspective I have to offer as an educator with more than three decades of experience, and as a nationally-recognized education law attorney — please feel free to call me in Louisville or to contact me online with a brief description of your situation, interest or concerns.
