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That time of year has quickly approached us yet again. With summer coming to an end, sooner than we all hoped for, the new school year is just around the corner. It can be stressful preparing your student for the next year of their education. For some, preparation for the new school year may begin

At Cherkas Metcalfe Law, Attorneys Katie Metcalfe and Jennifer Wilczynski prevailed on behalf of their client in a residential placement battle with the client’s local school district. The Pennsylvania administrative hearing officer found in favor of the parent’s request for a residential placement as a special education placement. The hearing officer found that the student

A Section 504 Plan and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) share the purpose of providing services to students with disabilities to ensure access to their education.  Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, students are entitled to a free and appropriate public education.  Both federal laws ensure that students

WHAT IS AN INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT? An informal adjustment is a non-judicial process.  It is a diversion program that allows juveniles to avoid court if the juvenile is deemed eligible.  Before a petition is filed against a juvenile, the juvenile probation officer may adjust the alleged charges under certain circumstances and place the juvenile under informal probation supervision

What is a suspension? Under 22 Pa. Code § 12.6, a suspension is a form of exclusion from school for a period between 1 to 10 consecutive school days.[i] The school board is responsible for defining and publishing offenses that would lead to an exclusion such as a suspension. Despite the board’s ability to define

Every public agency is required to, under Section 300.106 of the IDEA’s federal regulations, guarantee that extended school year services are available as needed to provide a child with a free appropriate public education (FAPE). A child is entitled to extended school year services when it is deemed necessary to fulfill a FAPE. The child’s

In a nutshell, transition planning helps students with individualized education plans (IEPs) prepare for life after secondary school. Many times this service is overlooked. This can be due to a lack of information sharing between the schools and parents, a lack of school or community resources, and/or a general misunderstanding that a student who is

Choosing a special education lawyer is no different than picking out a doctor or an accountant.  You want to do your homework. Special education law is nuanced and complex.  Practicing special education law requires not only an understanding of state and federal laws and regulations, but also a deep understanding of educational, psychological and psychiatric assessments, as