Listing of self-help materials and informational publications.
There are 47 resources
Discrimination in public education
Equity Education
(Separate Website)
The equity education program is designed to ensure all students have equal opportunities in education regardless of their race, national origin, gender or special needs. Equity education staff provide technical assistance to district officials to help them better understand and implement state and federal equity laws, and monitor their activities for compliance with those laws.
By: Superintendent of Public Education
How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights
(Separate Website)
Anyone who believes that an educational institution that receives Federal financial assistance has discriminated against someone on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age, or who believes that a public elementary or secondary school, or State or local education agency has violated the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, may file a complaint. The person or organization filing the complaint need not be a victim of the alleged discrimination, but may complain on behalf of another person or group.
By: Office for Civil Rights
Understanding How to Make a Complaint of Unlawful Discrimination
(Separate Website)
The flyer answers these frequently asked questions: What is Discrimination? What is a Protected Class? What should I do if I believe my child is being discriminated against? Who can I contact for help? What if I can't resolve the problem with the School? What if I don't agree with the decision? How do I file an appeal? What will OSPI do?
By: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
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Emancipation of Minors If you are a resident of Washington and are at least 16, but not yet 18, and you want to be legally considered an adult, you can use this packet to ask the court to order that you be emancipated (legally declared an adult).
By: Northwest Justice Project
Your Guide to Turning 18 This guide contains important information to get you started in your life as an adult. It covers topics from renting your first apartment and purchasing a car and military service.
By: WSBA Leadership Institute
Foster Youth: New Law Promotes Your Right to Counsel
Effective June 10, 2010, foster youth must be informed of their right to REQUEST an attorney in dependency and termination proceedings.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Independence for Foster Youth
(Separate Website)
Lots of great information for foster youth on education, housing, employment, etc.
By: DSHS
Washington State Service Providers
(Separate Website)
Listing of Washington State service providers helping youth on a variety of issues.
By: QLaw
Educating Homeless Children and Youth
(Separate Website)
2005 Guide to their rights. Link to PDF file.
By: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Education of Homeless Children and Youth
A short fact sheet about the federal McKinney-Vento Act which protects the rights of children and youth in homeless situations to attend and succeed in school, including pre-school.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Washington State Service Providers
(Separate Website)
Listing of Washington State service providers helping youth on a variety of issues.
By: QLaw
A Kinship Caregiver's Guide to Consenting to Health Care A kinship caregiver is a relative who is taking care of a child but is not the child's parent. This guide provides a child's kinship caregiver information about consenting to health care options.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Apple Health for Kids Program: How to Respond to DSHS Notices about Immigration and Citizenship Documents If you have children who receive state-funded free or low cost health insurance through the state's Apple Health for Kids program, you may receive a notice from the Department of Social and Health Services ("DSHS") asking you to send in documents about your child's citizenship or immigration status. This bulletin explains why you received this notice and what you should do.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Basic Health Plus - Medical Coverage for Children
(Separate Website)
Basic Health Plus is a Medicaid program for children in qualified households. If you are eligible for Basic Health your children may be eligible for Basic Health Plus. They must be under age 19 and U.S. citizens or legal residents who arrived in the U.S. on or before August 22 1996. If your children are not living in your household you may be able to enroll them in Basic Health but not Basic Health Plus.
By: DSHS
Healthy Ties: The Grandparent's and Other Relatives Guide to Health Insurance for Children
(Separate Website)
What you need to know about Medicaid and The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
By: Children's Defense Fund
Providing Health Care to Minors Under Washington Law A summary of health care services that can be provided to minors without the consent of their parents or guardians.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Your Health Care Rights if You're Under Eighteen
This publication outlines what health care services you may receive without the consent of a parent or guardian.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual
(Separate Website)
A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school.
By: TeamChild
Parent's Guide to Public School Discipline in WA
(Separate Website)
Th is guide provides nuts-and-bolts advice for parents and guardians whose children are facing disciplinary proceedings in public schools.
By: ACLU
Parents' Guide to Truancy in Washington
(Separate Website)
Th is guide is designed to help parents understand their children’s rights in the truancy process. It is not meant to provide legal advice. Students who want to learn more about their rights can also use this guide, but we recommend that they ask a trusted adult or youth advocate to help them through the process.
By: ACLU
Students and Parents! Know Your Rights in Disciplinary Proceedings**
This publication lists your rights with regard to school discipline and disciplinary proceedings.
By: TeamChild
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Truancies and School Attendance
Information about what happens when your child does not attend school and the school files a truancy action.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
A Guide for Public School Students in WA
(Separate Website)
This guide provides general information on students' rights in Washington state public schools. It is not meant to provide legal advice. This guide does not address the rights of students in private schools tribal schools public colleges or universities.
By: ACLU
Educating Homeless Children and Youth
(Separate Website)
2005 Guide to their rights. Link to PDF file.
By: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Education of Homeless Children and Youth
A short fact sheet about the federal McKinney-Vento Act which protects the rights of children and youth in homeless situations to attend and succeed in school, including pre-school.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual
(Separate Website)
A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school.
By: TeamChild
Parent's Guide to School Board Advocacy in WA
(Separate Website)
Th is publication is designed to serve as a tool for parents who want to communicate and advocate before their school board. It is not meant to provide legal advice.
By: ACLU
School Rights of Immigrant and Refugee Children and their Parents in Washington State
1112EN - All children living in the United States have a right to go to public school for free regardless of their immigration status. This publication explains this and other school rights.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Russian / Pусский
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Spanish / Español
Truancies and School Attendance
Information about what happens when your child does not attend school and the school files a truancy action.
By: Columbia Legal Services
Other Formats:
PDF File
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Independent Educational Evaluations
(Separate Website)
A student's eligibility for special education and related services is determined through an educational evaluation, a process of gathering information about the student's strengths, interests, and needs and whether the student has a disability requiring specially designed instruction.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) If your child is eligible for special education and related services, the school must prepare an IEP for your child. An IEP is a written education plan, individualized to meet your child's needs. It describes educational goals for your child, the programs and services that the school will provide, and how your child's progress toward the goals will be measured.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual
(Separate Website)
A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school.
By: TeamChild
Special Education Due Process Hearings If parents are unhappy with a special education decision made by the school, they can request a due process hearing.
By: Washington Protection and Advocacy System
Read this in:
Spanish / Español
Special Education Information Sheets
(Separate Website)
Disability Rights Washington has many special education related information sheets.
By: Disability Rights Washington
Special Education Students** and Parents: Know Your Rights Regarding School Discipline
1114EN - Special education students have all the procedural rights of non-special education students. The rights discussed in this flier are only those which specifically apply to special education students.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Other Formats:
PDF File
Discharging Student Loans Due To Disability 1172EN - This packet contains general information and forms to fill out for discharging student loans due to a severe disability.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Student Financial Aid and Welfare Benefits 7914EN - This publication explains the affect of receiving student financial aid when you also receive welfare benefits.
By: Northwest Justice Project
Student Loan Borrower Assistance
(Separate Website)
SLBA is focused on providing information about student loan rights and responsibilities for borrowers and advocates. SLBA also seeks to increase public understanding of student lending issues and to identify policy solutions to promote access to education, lessen student debt burdens and make loan repayment more manageable.
By: National Consumer Law Center
Student Loans: Default and Delinquency
(Separate Website)
General information on what you can do when you fall behind on paying your student loan.
By: Student Loan Borrower Assistance
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Washington LawHelp is provided as a public service by the Northwest Justice Project in collaboration with other legal aid providers in the Alliance for Equal Justice and Washington courts.
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