Pittsburgh School Discipline Lawyers
Every child has the right to free appropriate education (FAPE). If your child is constantly being sent home for behavioral issues that stem from a disability, he or she may be missing out on this right.
At the Pittsburgh-based law offices of Steele Schneider, our attorneys help parents get the services their children need to stay in school, manage difficult behavior and have the opportunity to learn.
Altoona Student Disability Attorneys: Ensuring All Children Have The Right To Education
Behaviors some teachers consider difficult, such as tapping or rocking — commonly seen in autistic children — may simply be your child's method of coping with his or her disability. Your child should not be taken out of class or suspended from school due to a manifestation of his or her disability.
Federal laws require a school district to evaluate a child with a disability before making a significant change in placement. While this usually involves a change that lasts longer than 10 consecutive days, a series of suspensions due to difficult behaviors may show a pattern of exclusion and constitute a significant change of placement.
At Steele Schneider, our experienced special education attorneys can help you enforce your due process rights to ensure the proper procedures are followed and your child is given the services he or she needs to be successful in school.
Keeping Children In School
If a series of suspensions is considered a significant change of placement, then your child's school must hold a reevaluation to determine whether the complained-about behavior is a manifestation of your child's disability.
If the group finds that behavioral problems are directly related to your child's disability, then your child must be returned to school. In addition, the school must conduct a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) to identify the reason behind your child's behavior. If your child's school refuses to perform an FBA, our lawyers at Steele Schneider will connect you with our network behavior specialists to provide an accurate, comprehensive independent assessment.
After the FBA, the school must create a positive Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP) to discourage bad behavior and reinforce good behavior. Your child's individualized education program (IEP) may also need revision to include strategies to minimize difficult behavior.
If your child is being removed from school due to behaviors caused by his or her disability, contact the Pittsburgh school discipline attorneys of Steele Schneider today at 412-235-7682.
