Education

CRLA provides advice and representation to parents, guardians and students regarding their right to a free public school education. Education has been a CRLA priority since its inception. We have been involved in landmark litigation correcting the mis-classification of English learners as children with learning disabilities; challenging the State's failure to monitor educational services for non-English speakers; and resisting local school district policies that discriminate against low income and migrant children. Recently through coordinated advocacy efforts CRLA was able to ensure that $29 million of Migrant Education money was allocated throughout the state for use in such important programs such as summer school and health services.

Additionally, CRLA offices provide individual representation and advice in the following areas:

• Discipline Issues: To represent children who are being expelled (and for some suspensions) particularly where it appears that other means of correcting behavior have not been attempted or when it appears the school is not using proper procedures or is unfairly disciplining some children but not others based on race, language or ethnicity.
• Language Access: Helping parents and children enforce the right to translation and interpretation of school materials and to ensure proper instruction for children who do not speak English, including under some circumstances, bilingual education.
• Special Education Placement: Assisting children who have special education needs to obtain proper school assignment, instruction, and supportive services.
• School Transportation and Assignment Issues: Help ensure that schools are providing transportation alternatives that allow all children to attend school and participate in after school activities; and help parents challenge reorganizations of schools and school districts.
• School Choice and Supplemental Services under the No Child Left Behind Act; ("NCLB"): Make sure that children who are in under performing schools have access to federally mandated supplemental education services and are offered the option to transfer to better schools.
• Equal Access to Services and Williams Act complaints: Help parents file complaints regarding unsafe or unhealthy conditions at schools, lack of books or other instructional materials; and teachers without proper credentials.