I spoke yesterday at the annual UT School Law Conference, which is going on today also.  My topic was about what the general school attorney needs to know about special education. The first slide points out that “there is no escaping special ed!”

I think that’s the truth and it becomes truthier every year. (Yes…I know that’s not a real word).

We used to have lawyers in our firm who would run to the hills to avoid a phone call that included words like “ARD” or “manifestation determination.”  But that’s becoming close to impossible.  The students in special education are a small minority of your students, but they produce a disproportionate percentage of legal concerns.  All of the lawyers need to know the basics.

So that’s what my 30-minute talk was about—the basics of discipline, parent rights, a few words on the recent controversy over the 8.5% issue, and some suggestions for the proper role for an attorney.

I think the most important thing I told those lawyers yesterday was that the lawyer serves the school district well when he or she advises them to do the right thing for the student. Special ed lawyering is not about cutting corners or finding clever ways to avoid legal responsibilities. It’s about making sure the client is in full compliance. The best way to do that is to do the right thing.

Maybe a good thought to end the week with.

DAWG BONE: IN SPECIAL ED, DO THE RIGHT THING.  IN GENERAL ED, DO THE RIGHT THING. IN LIFE, DO THE RIGHT THING.  YOU GET THE IDEA.

 File this one under: SPECIAL EDUCATION