Anonymous
10/19/2025 13:50
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
There are laws governing how students with disabilities can be subject to exclusionary discipline. If they are violated, a lawyer can help. If the student needs more support or a different placement, a lawyer can help with that.
A lawyers can also better assist a family navigating the disciplinary process, such as with a discipline appeal or certain other proceedings that are triggered in certain cases. Advocates don't know what they are doing in my experience in this area and can lead families astray.
What kind of lawyer would that be?
I'm open to looking at anything that will help I get through this.
Most special ed lawyers also know the disciplinary system. Certainly if you think your child needs a more restrictive placement you'll want a special ed lawyer.
Echoing the advice to contact a special ed lawyer. They can help first with the discipline. And second, if the student is in the discipline system, there's almost certainly unmet needs in the IEP, so they can help with that too.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 13:43
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
There are laws governing how students with disabilities can be subject to exclusionary discipline. If they are violated, a lawyer can help. If the student needs more support or a different placement, a lawyer can help with that.
A lawyers can also better assist a family navigating the disciplinary process, such as with a discipline appeal or certain other proceedings that are triggered in certain cases. Advocates don't know what they are doing in my experience in this area and can lead families astray.
What kind of lawyer would that be?
I'm open to looking at anything that will help I get through this.
a special education attorney.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 11:37
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
There are laws governing how students with disabilities can be subject to exclusionary discipline. If they are violated, a lawyer can help. If the student needs more support or a different placement, a lawyer can help with that.
A lawyers can also better assist a family navigating the disciplinary process, such as with a discipline appeal or certain other proceedings that are triggered in certain cases. Advocates don't know what they are doing in my experience in this area and can lead families astray.
What kind of lawyer would that be?
I'm open to looking at anything that will help I get through this.
Most special ed lawyers also know the disciplinary system. Certainly if you think your child needs a more restrictive placement you'll want a special ed lawyer.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 08:27
Subject: Re:Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:I read both of your threads and I believe might have commented on the earlier one. Here are my thoughts.
1. You aren’t going to have a lawyer or advocate before your meeting.
2. You need to figure out what you want before you can hire help. Do you need someone to explain all of your options? Do you have a school that you want for your child? Do you want to hear all of the possibilities? Do you need a beefed up IEP? Do you want to press a claim of failure to provide services identified in the IEP?
I feel like in your posts you have no direction and you want someone to tell you what to do. But you know your child and your situation. And even if there was some failure the day of the incident, I feel like you get that perfection will never happen so you have to figure that into your plan. And I feel like you’re overwhelmed. But being reactive without thoughtfulness and deciding to spend thousands on an attorney or advocate before you get through crisis mode might be throwing good money away.
I’m sorry you’re going through this.
This is a bit harsh but politely worded. Of course the OP doesn’t know what to do and doesn’t understand. That is why they are asking. Let’s be sympathetic to that this is extremely confusing, overwhelming, heartbreaking situation for OP, who is probably still trusting of the school. Sadly, OP needs a lawyer who specializes in this ASAP.
Contact the attorney. You can delay the meeting with school if possible.
Anonymous
10/19/2025 08:24
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
https://spranolaw.com/practice-areas/school-disciplinary-hearings/
Alene Sprano is an attorney who has experience in this area. She is excellent and caring. Contact her right away.
Alene Sprano is an attorney who has experience in this area. She is excellent and caring. Contact her right away.
Anonymous
10/18/2025 22:26
Subject: Re:Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
I read both of your threads and I believe might have commented on the earlier one. Here are my thoughts.
1. You aren’t going to have a lawyer or advocate before your meeting.
2. You need to figure out what you want before you can hire help. Do you need someone to explain all of your options? Do you have a school that you want for your child? Do you want to hear all of the possibilities? Do you need a beefed up IEP? Do you want to press a claim of failure to provide services identified in the IEP?
I feel like in your posts you have no direction and you want someone to tell you what to do. But you know your child and your situation. And even if there was some failure the day of the incident, I feel like you get that perfection will never happen so you have to figure that into your plan. And I feel like you’re overwhelmed. But being reactive without thoughtfulness and deciding to spend thousands on an attorney or advocate before you get through crisis mode might be throwing good money away.
I’m sorry you’re going through this.
1. You aren’t going to have a lawyer or advocate before your meeting.
2. You need to figure out what you want before you can hire help. Do you need someone to explain all of your options? Do you have a school that you want for your child? Do you want to hear all of the possibilities? Do you need a beefed up IEP? Do you want to press a claim of failure to provide services identified in the IEP?
I feel like in your posts you have no direction and you want someone to tell you what to do. But you know your child and your situation. And even if there was some failure the day of the incident, I feel like you get that perfection will never happen so you have to figure that into your plan. And I feel like you’re overwhelmed. But being reactive without thoughtfulness and deciding to spend thousands on an attorney or advocate before you get through crisis mode might be throwing good money away.
I’m sorry you’re going through this.
Anonymous
10/18/2025 21:28
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
There are laws governing how students with disabilities can be subject to exclusionary discipline. If they are violated, a lawyer can help. If the student needs more support or a different placement, a lawyer can help with that.
A lawyers can also better assist a family navigating the disciplinary process, such as with a discipline appeal or certain other proceedings that are triggered in certain cases. Advocates don't know what they are doing in my experience in this area and can lead families astray.
What kind of lawyer would that be?
I'm open to looking at anything that will help I get through this.
Anonymous
10/18/2025 21:27
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:OP posted in another forum and is looking for help handling discipline against her child who has an IEP for behavior that is a manifestation of the disability, if I understand correctly. It sounds like school didn't provide a needed support to de escalate at the time of the incident. Hope I understood correctly. I think she would appreciate any names who could helpyes her with FCPS.
Yes, thank you
Anonymous
10/18/2025 19:17
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
There are laws governing how students with disabilities can be subject to exclusionary discipline. If they are violated, a lawyer can help. If the student needs more support or a different placement, a lawyer can help with that.
A lawyers can also better assist a family navigating the disciplinary process, such as with a discipline appeal or certain other proceedings that are triggered in certain cases. Advocates don't know what they are doing in my experience in this area and can lead families astray.
Anonymous
10/18/2025 14:06
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
OP posted in another forum and is looking for help handling discipline against her child who has an IEP for behavior that is a manifestation of the disability, if I understand correctly. It sounds like school didn't provide a needed support to de escalate at the time of the incident. Hope I understood correctly. I think she would appreciate any names who could help her with FCPS.
Anonymous
10/18/2025 13:20
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
There are laws governing how students with disabilities can be subject to exclusionary discipline. If they are violated, a lawyer can help. If the student needs more support or a different placement, a lawyer can help with that.
Anonymous
10/18/2025 13:16
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Anonymous wrote:You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Why would OP need a lawyer?
Anonymous
10/17/2025 21:35
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Is your kid the trouble maker or the one receiving trouble?
Anonymous
10/17/2025 20:54
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
You don't want an advocate for school discipline issues. You need an attorney.
Anonymous
10/17/2025 13:45
Subject: Recommendation for advocate having experience with FCPS discipline issues
Hello,
Can anyone recommend an advocate who can help us navigate discipline issues in FCPS?
Thank you.
Can anyone recommend an advocate who can help us navigate discipline issues in FCPS?
Thank you.