lawprofessors

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Did you know that cats and dogs are used as test subjects in colleges and universities?  People often think of rats, mice and primates as animals used in research, but typical "pets" are sadly also used (see  graphic article on cat experimentation in colleges ).  What happens to the animals if they are still well AFTER a public college is through with them?  Are they euthanized or do they have to be placed in new homes?  It depends on their condition. Per California  Education Code  �66017.7 , animals which are "suitable for adoption" after the school is through with them, do not have to be put to death.  Rather, they are to be placed up for adoption by the college or given to an adoption agency to place. This section states in part: "(a) A public postsecondary educational institution or independent institution of higher education, or employee or student thereof, that confines...

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Do you or a family member attend one of the many California community colleges ?  Have you ever wondered what data the college is gathering on you? Or, have you had "issues" and want to see what is in your records?  Or,maybe you just wish to see what your records state prior to applying to transfer? You are in luck, as thanks to our legislature, obtaining your records from California community colleges is fast, relatively speaking. Federal law ( Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, aka FERPA ) provides students the right to review their records within 45 days of a request.  This applies to many colleges, but in California, state law extends students' records rights beyond federal law.   California Education Code  �76230 provides students the right to inspect and review their records within 15 working days of a request. This is roughly a 24-27 day difference (or more depending...

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Once a student transitions from high school to college, their world changes.  If they were a special education student with an IEP (Individualized Education Program) in their high school, they will not be anymore.  They may try to muddle through college without supports, and eventually may fail or drop out if they do not obtain some form of reasonable accommodations for their disabilities in college. But, what steps do students need to take to obtain disability accommodations at their college? STEP ONE:  The first thing which a student who suffers from a disabling condition must do is NOTIFY the college they have a disability, preferably in writing.  In the college catalog or handbook, there is likely listed a disabled student services or other office to contact, which is in charge of setting up reasonable accommodations for disabled students.  So, step number one is to contact that offic...

By  Michelle Ball , California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Pursuant to California Education Code section 66017 , a California Community College, California State University (CSU), or University of California (UC) may suspend a student for willful disruption, to protect lives or property, or to ensure the maintenance of order.  [This is not an exhaustive list.]  However, if the suspension by the college is issued immediately (e.g. the student is kicked off campus right then), the student is legally entitled, per this section, to a hearing within 10 days. If the college suspension is not issued immediately (e.g. the student is still allowed to attend classes) or is merely proposed, 66017 states that the hearing must be "prompt" which may or may not mean "within 10 days."  I would argue the college student is still entitled to a hearing within that amount of time. Section 66017 also instructs colleges to adopt procedures and appoint personnel to deal...

By Michelle Ball, California Education Attorney for Students since 1995 Hello! The blogging world is a new one for me.  I am an attorney in Sacramento, California practicing education law on behalf of students since 1995 .  I handle a whole gamut of issues, including student discipline matters, expulsions, suspensions and suspension appeals, even protesting inappropriate behavior contracts and other punishments.  I also delve into special education, attend IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings, 504 meetings, and file due process as needed.  Help usually begins with a review of documents, and correspondence to the school, school district or college involved.  Oftentimes I can resolve matters via phone and email without leaving my office.  Sometimes we have to go further as a personal appearance is required   (e.g. at an expulsion hearing or board of education meeting) or necessary to move things along.  My clients also help determine whic...