Navigating Education Law in the U.S.: Protecting Rights and Ensuring Access for All Students

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Navigating Education Law in the U.S.: Protecting Rights and Ensuring Access for All Students

Program Originally Presented Friday, February 28, 2025 

This CLE program delves into the key components and fundamental aspects of education law in the United States, with a particular emphasis on the legal protections afforded to students from vulnerable populations. Panelists will examine recent regulatory changes and executive actions shaping education law and focus on their impact on key laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as the rights of English Language Learners (ELLs), immigrant populations, and marginalized communities. Attendees will gain a thorough understanding of how these developments, along with other critical education laws, are influencing the educational experiences and protections for all students.

Key topics covered will include:

• IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and its mandate for Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for students with disabilities, analyzing key cases such as Board of Education v. Rowley and Irving Independent Sch. Dist. v. Tatro, and how the new administration may influence future implementation and funding of special education services
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability in federally funded educational programs, including new administrative efforts to enhance enforcement and protections
• The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and its continuing relevance to the education sector, alongside ongoing efforts by the current administration to strengthen civil rights protections for students with disabilities
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, exploring the new administration's approach to combating sex-based discrimination in schools, with a special focus on gender equity, sexual harassment, and transgender rights in education
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits race, color, and national origin discrimination in federally funded education programs, with an eye on how the new administration's policies address systemic inequities
• New emerging issues in education law under the current political climate, including the rights of English Language Learners (ELLs) and immigrant students, especially in the context of shifting immigration policies
• State funding concerns, including the pressing issue of preschool pushout and the disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities

This CLE program is ideal for attorneys, educators, and advocates working in education law, civil rights, and student advocacy.

Moderator:
Lakiesha R. Fields, Esq.
Deputy City Solicitor, City of Philadelphia Law Department
Chair, Government and Public Service Lawyers Committee

Panelists:
Natasha Felder, M.S., Esq.
Assistant General Counsel, The School District of Philadelphia

Ashli Giles-Perkins, Esq., M.Ed.
Staff Attorney, Education Law Center

Dana Y. King, Esq.
The Law Office of Dana Y. King, Esq.

Margie Wakelin, Esq.
Senior Attorney, Education Law Center

0287ODV