Welcome to the February 2011 issue of our monthly newsletter dedicated to keeping you current on Education Law and related issues. |
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FEATURED CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
Kevin B. Riordan, Esq.
Berry, Sahradnik, Kotzas, Riordan & Benson
Toms River, New Jersey
"Your superb knowledge and experience in serving as a consultant and expert in special education cases make you a formidable adversary for any opposing counsel and expert. Your excellent communication and presentation skills make you an excellent witness in court. In this particular case, you reviewed all of the materials provided to you in a timely fashion and opined thereon precisely and efficiently." |
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Dragan's book The Bully Action Guide is now available for pre order on Amazon.
 "In my work I see many understandably frustrated parents become desperate to figure out how to enlist the school when their child is bullied. How should they approach the teacher? What happens if the teacher won't recognize the problem? What should you do if the school refuses to do anything to stop the bullies? The Bully Action Guide fills a critical gap in the resources available for parents. Not only does it provide clear strategies for when to approach educators but how. The book is filled with simple yet powerful scripts for parents to use to clearly communicate their child's rights and hold educators responsible in a way that gives the parent the best chance of working in collaboration with the school. I am strongly recommending this book for all parents."- Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes |
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| Featured Articles | |
How to Work with Your Principal
By Edward f. Dragan, EdD
Nothing annoyed me more as a parent than a promise from the principal that she would take care of a concern about my child, but nothing happened. "Thanks for letting me know that Kiel teased Jessica on the playground today. I'll talk with Kiel about it." Is this an empty promise? It very well might be.
School administrators are very busy people. I know. As a principal of an elementary school, I was overwhelmed with improving student scores on state tests, training and evaluating teachers, keeping up on the latest trends in the curricula, approving kindergarten class trip to the zoo, and making sure that students weren't bullied, harassed, or intimidated by fellow students. So How can parents get the school administration to really listen and then resolve the problem? One thing that would cause me to change my focus as when a parent had the right words, the right questioins, and the right attitude. I listened and I acted.
Full Article |
Articles from previous issues:
Article by Dr. Dragan, September 2010
Article by Dr. Dragan, September 2008
Presented by Dr. Dragan at
Student Safety and Security Conference, Orlando FL
on April 15, 2010
Dr. Dragan's article published in American School, December 2009
FOR OTHER EDUCATION RELATED ARTICLES VISIT OUR RE-DESIGNED WEBSITE AND BLOG |
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I hope that our newsletter has provided you with valuable information. If there is anything else that you would like us to include please do not hesitate to give us your feedback.
As a litigation consultant and education administration expert, I am committed to providing individualized service to our clients while dealing with large and complex consultations quickly and professionally. These include case review and analysis, expert testimony, school reviews in custody matters, presentations and working with parents or schools to ensure children receive an appropriate education.
I take pride in the fact that my firm responds to our clients' needs personally and promptly. We continue to strive to combine the resources of a large firm with the personal consultant-client rapport of a small practice.
Sincerely,
Edward F. Dragan, Ed.D.
Education Management Consulting, LLC |
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| Quick Links |
Learn more about us and how our education and school liability expertise can help resolve your education case. phone: 609.397.8989 |
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Minnesota school district settles federal civil rights suit, allowing lesbian students to walk as couple in school prep rally procession
February 2, 2011
Full Story
Courthouse News Service reports that two lesbian students have agreed to drop their federal lawsuit after Champlin Park High School agreed to let the girls walk as a couple at a school assembly. Desiree Shelton and Sarah Lindstrom were elected by classmates to the Royalty Court, which involved walking in the Royalty Court procession for the school's Snow Days celebration. Although students were traditionally paired as opposite sex couples, Shelton and Lindstrom planned to walk together as a couple. | |
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Student with ADHD, bipolar disorder and conduct disorder is "a child with a disability" under IDEA. |
January 21, 2011-
Full Story
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has held that a student suffering from ADHD, bipolar disorder, and conduct disorder is "a child with a disability" within the meaning of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and, therefore, eligible for special education services under the statute. The panel concluded that the student satisfied the eligibility requirements for "emotional disturbance" and "other health impairment" under IDEA. |
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Parents' suit says school district's failure to adress bullying led to student's suicide | |
January 1, 2011
Full Story
The parents of a student who committed suicide by hanging in a bathroom at his elementary school have filed suit in a Texas federal district court against Lewisville Independent School District (LISD), says Courthouse News Service. The suit charges that LISD failed to keep the student safe from harm, and was deliberately indifferent to complaints that he was being bullied. The student's mother says that shortly before her son killed himself she sent a letter to the principal, "complaining about the fact [that her son] had been, and continued to be, a victim of incessant bullying by other children," and also complained of it to the school board.
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