I can’t think of a lawyer to “ document all of the ways the school has failed to partner with us.” That’s something you would do. You would then provide that information to an attorney if the actions of the school violated a law or a contract. Private schools generally have very well written contracts. Regardless of how poorly they accommodate your child, you’re unlikely to find someone who can find a basis to sue based on violation of contract.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks- OP here. I appreciate the thoughtful replies. We have moved incredibly quickly to do many of the things listed here (therapy for child and family, looking at other options). However, the school has taken actions that have harmed my child, communicated multiple things around the same situation (thereby impacting actions we have taken), and the teaching quality has been incredibly poor. Even outside of this we were planning on making a change because we don’t like the school, we just needed one more year to do so. I want a lawyer to help so the school makes changes in how they handle future situations and not harm others as they have harmed my child and family.

It isn’t going to work. Your unhappiness with the school is not grounds for legal intervention. We’ve all said it, and you’ve gotten good advice about alternatives. Communicate your views to the school and move on. Or don’t listen, but you’ll be wasting time and money.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you- I know that’s where we are headed but I would still like to take legal action.

What law is it you think they've broken?

Anonymous wrote:OP, another thing to consider: I’d only go the legal route if you’re 100% sure that your child will be in public moving forward.
Word gets around quickly and no private school will admit a kid whose parents sued his former school.

This lawsuit will die quickly (if anyone takes it), so that probably won’t matter much.

OP, another thing to consider: I’d only go the legal route if you’re 100% sure that your child will be in public moving forward.
Word gets around quickly and no private school will admit a kid whose parents sued his former school.

https://belkowitzlaw.com

https://www.gekimlaw.com/

*how your child’s behavior negatively affects others.

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary school child is at a private school in DC. The school is trying to push us out- our child has been diagnosed with ADHD this school year. We are doing everything we can as quickly as we can to stabilize our child but medication takes time to work. We understand we signed away a lot of our rights going private but does anyone have a recommendation of a lawyer who can help us? At the very least, we want to document all of the ways the school has failed to partner with us.

I’m a teacher at a local private. In my experience, we’ve never tried to push out any student, even with an adhd diagnosis (which is unfortunately not that rare), unless they had behavioral issues that negatively impacted other children: showing agressive behavior, even sometimes bullying, lack of emotional regulation, etc.
If what you claim is true and the school is resorting to pushing your family out, they clearly have documented how your child’s behavior.
As someone said above, schools don’t do anything they haven’t discussed with their lawyer either.

Anonymous wrote:Thank you- I know that’s where we are headed but I would still like to take legal action.

Here is the honest truth. There doesn’t seem to be any reasonable legal action. While I’m sure this is painful for you and your child, your best bet is to put that money towards the new school and support for your DC.

OP, no reputable lawyer is going to take this case because there simply is no case.

You need to move on. If the school wanted to do things differently they would. Frankly the fact that you are trying to pursue a fruitless litigations makes me think you were a very difficult family to deal with for the school. They simply cannot support your child and I suspect tried to tell you this in many ways that you did not want to hear. So now you have out yourself in a tough spot.

Thanks- OP here. I appreciate the thoughtful replies. We have moved incredibly quickly to do many of the things listed here (therapy for child and family, looking at other options). However, the school has taken actions that have harmed my child, communicated multiple things around the same situation (thereby impacting actions we have taken), and the teaching quality has been incredibly poor. Even outside of this we were planning on making a change because we don’t like the school, we just needed one more year to do so. I want a lawyer to help so the school makes changes in how they handle future situations and not harm others as they have harmed my child and family.

Anonymous wrote:OP, why are you directing your energies towards legal action against the school, rather than helping your child with their new diagnosis? I sincerely hope that you seek therapy for yourself so that you can direct your anger in a productive way--and I suggest this as someone who does not recommend therapy lightly. You are not seeing straight, and you are neither behaving in a productive way nor in a way that sets a good example for your child.

+1

This exactly. Understanding OP's feelings are touched, a new diagnosis is a lot if you are not someone who is open-minded enough to know that having a diagnosis is actually an amazing place to be because it provides clarity. As a parent of a child with ADHD, depending on how your child presents their diagnosis (if you are being counseled out, I am guessing your child is either being a danger to themself or others or posing enough of a disruption to the class that the needs of/obligations to the majority can no longer be met), do know that you absolutely want a space where your child is happy and thrives. Allow your child to be counseled out and find the schools that will meet your child’s uniqueness. I promise you, wasting energy on legal action is not the way to go. You don't want to be that family.

Anonymous wrote:Also, by litigating against your child's current school, you can kiss goodbye future opportunities to enroll your child in a different private school. The private school world is *small*. Your reputation will follow you and your family.

That’s the truth.

If they were aware of the history, there’s no Admission Director that would touch this family with a ten foot pole. And the school that was sued would have no problem sharing it (informally) with other schools.

"I don't care that I can't articulate any legal theory of why I can sue the school, I don't care that I don't have a legal leg to stand on, I want a lawyer to send nasty letters to the school and make me feel better."

The reason you aren't getting lawyer recommendations is that you'd have to have an articulable case:

Was your child subject to racial or religious discrimination? If so, here are lawyers that are recommended for that ...

Was your child abused by a teacher or staff member? If so, here are lawyers that are recommended for that ...

Is the school trying to force you to pay for the rest of the school year after kicking your kid out of the school? If so, here are lawyers that are recommended for that ...

Asking for a lawyer recommendation when you're just angry with the school is too vague of a question. Honestly, people here are just trying to help you avoid wasting money and burning your reputation with frivolous legal threats that would likely harm your chance of getting your kid into another school.

OP, the fact that this is hard, sad, and feels unfair does not constitute grounds for a lawsuit. The reason people are suggesting putting your resources elsewhere is that you don’t have grounds to sue, so you would be wasting your time and money. And any lawyer worth anything wouldn’t take the case, because you don’t have a claim. If you want to put the screws to the school, threaten to tell everyone you know and post online reviews about their broken “promises” and their mistreatment of your family. Schools care a ton about their reputation. I did this once and received a tuition refund. You’re better off going this route than looking for a lawyer.

Signed,
A lawyer