Education
Our attorneys work to ensure education adequacy because we understand the long-term economic impact.
About
Our team specializes in charter school law, school funding, and higher education. We help charter schools, networks, and education service providers with starting nonprofit tax-exempt corporations, board governance, bylaws, school policies, discipline, contracts, employment-related issues, and diversity and equity initiatives. We also have significant experience in education-related litigation matters and other disputes, as well as independent and internal investigations.
Service Highlights
Charter School
- Advising charter school applicants with petitions to districts and other authorizers, grant applications, and bylaws
- Assisting charter schools in obtaining funding required by Georgia law
- Assisting charter schools in complying with special education laws and regulations, including attending IEP meetings and representing schools in due process hearings
- Advising charter schools on employment-related issues, including hiring, disciplining, terminating, and complying with state and federal law
- Advising educational institutions on student records issues arising under state and federal laws, such as the Georgia Open Meetings Act, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”)
- Providing counsel to schools and students in disciplinary actions
- Negotiating agreements between charter schools, education management organizations (“EMOs”), and other partners
- Working with school districts in litigation addressing the constitutionality of state funding
Higher Education
At the college and university level, we are one of very few high-quality firms who specialize in representing students and faculty. We have represented over 25 students at the college and post-graduate level—including medical school, nursing and physical therapy programs, and law school—in academic and non-academic investigations, hearings, and appeals. Our results speak for themselves. We have often had initial decisions regarding suspensions, probations, and grades reversed.
We also have experience representing faculty members in contract negotiations, regarding academic freedom, and in disputes involving employment or tenure.
- Represented dozens of students in investigations, hearings, and appeals
- Have convinced major institutions to reverse decisions regarding suspensions, expulsions, and probation
- Achieved favorable results for faculty in negotiations with colleges and universities
