Education

Several federal laws protect student privacy rights. Student education records are protected. Particular student information obtained for marketing purposes cannot typically be disclosed (such as responses to surveys and online websites that collect information about children under 13). Tennessee also has laws that protect student data. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) FERPA…

Several laws passed by the Tennessee General Assembly affect students in this school year. Here is a brief overview of them. Assistance for deaf students HB0435/SB0004 created a “deaf mentor and parent advisor program to assist families in implementing bilingual and bicultural home-based programming for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or deaf-blind.” The…

Federal law requires students with special needs or disabilities to have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). An IEP that in theory is created by a team from the school and parents to set forth the educational supports and services to help your child reach his or her learning potential. In reality, the process may be…

The State has broad authority to regulate teachers and the teaching profession. In order to teach, a teacher must obtain a license from the State Board of Education in Tennessee or a similar agency in other states where the teacher holds a license or is teaching. The State Board of Education may suspend, revoke, or…

SROs. IEPs. If you have a child in the public school system, you are probably familiar with both abbreviations. If your child is a student with special needs, you likely know better than most how important it is that school resource officers (SROs) are aware of and understand individual education programs (IEPs). For instance, if…

All children in the United States are entitled to a free public education (FAPE), one that is appropriate for their needs and abilities. These rights are afforded under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which created the Individualized Education Program (IEP). If your student is eligible for special education services, they may and often…

In education circles, redshirting may mean postponing entrance into kindergarten, giving a child extra time to develop the social, academic, and emotional skills that allow him or her to better excel. (It’s actually a term borrowed from college athletics.) A recent article in The Atlantic makes the case for redshirting, citing the value of a…

A recent federal court ruling against virtual proctoring room scans may affect future right to privacy laws across the country. During the pandemic, many schools and universities turned to virtual proctoring systems while administering tests and exams. Some of these systems required students to provide a video scan of their rooms in order to look…

When classrooms moved to virtual and online learning in 2020 as a result of the pandemic, students of all ages and learning abilities faced adjustments and challenges. However, over a year later, many parents of special education students realized their children suffered bigger losses than previously thought. Students with learning disabilities and other special needs…

Parents of children with special needs or disabilities know that their children assistance to learn and reach their potential in the school setting.  Some school districts however do not or will not offer the services that these children need.  Federal and state law serves to protect these children but too often parents do not know…