A new school year is upon us. Thousands of students across Florida are returning to school. Some are entering their senior year of high school. Others are college freshman or in their final year of graduate school. Everything is new, exciting, and maybe a little terrifying. You’re overloaded with information: Class schedules; a list of clubs and organizations; campus maps; tours; it’s Rush week. And somewhere buried in all of this information is a quick reference to the school’s handbook. In today’s world more often then not it’s a mention that, “oh you can go on-line and find it.” (Does any school or school district actually pass out paper copies anymore?). For most student’s that’s where it ends. But it shouldn’t. Take it from a Florida education law attorney, knowing the importance of your school handbook and how to read it could be critical.So what is the handbook? It’s the blueprint for that particular school. It contains all of the school’s policies and procedures. Probably the most important section is about the disciplinary process. Why? Because it’s essentially the school’s criminal, civil and appellate rules of procedure. It’s not only a guideline for the student, but what school’s sometimes forget is that it is also a guideline for them. Whether it is a K-12 public school district, or a private college or university, the school has to follow the rules set forth in its handbook. What does that mean for you, the student? Lots of things: • It means that it sets forth what constitutes a school violation. • It means the school has to provide you with the proper notice set forth in its handbook. • It has to tell you the evidence it plans on using against you in an academic or disciplinary hearing. • It explains the rules of those hearings and not only holds the student, but the school to those rules. • It tells the student what appeal rights they have after a hearing. • And many more things.Sometimes, just by failing to follow its own policies in the handbook is enough to get student charges reduced, dismissed or reversed. For a student or an education lawyer, knowing what the handbook says can make all of the difference. To make this a little easier for you, I’ll post some links to some Florida school districts, colleges and university handbooks. So put down that campus map, stop figuring out what club you want to join, and be fifteen minutes late to the Rush event. Find your school’s handbook, bookmark it, and just maybe, scroll through it.To view links to handbooks for public school districts throughout the state of Florida click here. Click here to view links for Florida colleges and university handbooks. Many technical and vocational school handbooks are given to the student upon enrollment. Make sure you read your handbook and keep them in a safe place.Richard Asselta is a Florida Education law attorney and the founder of Asselta Law, PA, located in Broward County, Florida. Asselta Law concentrates on Florida School Law and Appeals. Mr. Asselta is a former education law attorney for a large public school district and draws upon the knowledge gained from the other side of the table to work with teachers and students on legal issues in a variety of educational settings. Visit the about the firm and education law practice pages for more information.
Focused 100% on education law matters
Florida Students Golden Rule – Know Thy Handbook – Advice from a Florida Education Law Attorney
On Behalf of Asselta Law P.A. | Aug 23, 2015
Recent Posts
- Accused of using AI like ChatGPT to Cheat? A lawyer for students discusses.
- What Is The Process For Appealing Discipline in Broward County Public Schools? A Lawyer Answers.
- Academic Violation for Sharing Course Materials on Chegg or Course Hero? Tips from a lawyer.
- Accused of Cheating at a Private College? The Importance of a Student Defense Lawyer.
- I Accidently Submitted an Unfinished Draft of a Paper – Is it Plagiarism?
Archives
- July 2023
- March 2023
- June 2022
- March 2022
- September 2021
- September 2020
- August 2020
- March 2020
- September 2019
- August 2019
- June 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015