Children in the District of Columbia have a right to a public education. Public schools in D.C.
cannot terminate students right to public education without first affording them due process.
However, schools often fail to provide proper notice, a fair hearing, or provide students with
disabilities that additional protections guaranteed by the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA).

Volunteer attorneys can provide much-needed assistance to
students who face long-term suspension or expulsion. This assistance can ensure that all public
schools in the District of Columbia (both DCPS amp; public charter schools) afford students due
process, minimize students loss of instructional time and protect students right to public education.

This training offers volunteer attorneys an opportunity to play an integral role in this
critically underserved area of the law that has an immediate and direct impact on the lives of
students and families.

The training will prepare attorneys to represent students in school discipline cases at traditional D.C. Public Schools (DCPS) and D.C. public charter schools. Representation would include
administrative litigation before Administrative Law Judges at the District of Columbia Office of
Administrative Hearings (OAH) for students who attend DCPS schools or before a charter schools
hearing officer/committee and/or board of trustees for students in charter schools.