Washington LawHelp

School rights

Legal Information

• Students Rights and Responsibilities in the Digital Age

  Communicating with electronic devices and on the Internet – whether through text message, chat, e-mail, Facebook, blogs, Twitter, Tumblr, image boards or countless others – raises both new and old questions about your legal rights. This booklet provides information about legal rights online and the limits to those rights. Read More

  By:

  ACLU of Washington

• Truancies and School Attendance

  1134EN - Information about what happens when your child does not attend school and the school files a truancy action. Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Make a Difference in a Child's Life - Education Advocacy Manual

  A manual for helping children and youth get what they need in school. Read More

  By:

  TeamChild

• Pregnant or Parenting? Title IX Protects You from Discrimination at School

  Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex—including pregnancy and parental status—in educational programs and activities. All public and private schools, school districts, colleges, and universities receiving any Federal funds (“schools”) must comply with Title IX.* This publication will explain things you should know about your rights. Read More

  By:

  U.S. Department of Education

• Parent's Guide to School Board Advocacy in WA

  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. Read More

  By:

  ACLU

• A Guide for Public School Students in WA

  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. Read More

  By:

  ACLU

• Attendance Counts!

  Skipping a class or full day of school can really add up over time. Find out how your missed days affect your chances of graduating on time! Read More

  By:

  Get Schooled!

• Basic Education Rights and Opportunities in Public Schools

  A handbook for parents with children in elementary and secondary public schools in the state of Washington Read More

  By:

  Office of the Education Ombudsman

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

• Educating Homeless Children and Youth

  Homeless children and youth sometimes need help enrolling and participating in school. Various individuals can, and should, step forward to provide assistance. Parents, relatives, family friends, school and school district personnel, shelter providers, youth program workers, social workers, advocates, and the students themselves can all play a role in helping young people get an education. If you are such a person, this booklet will get you started. Read More

  By:

  National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

• Rights of Homeless Youth under the KcKinney-Vento Act (Primary & Secondary School Rights of Homeless Youth)

  The McKinney-Vento Act protects the right of homeless youth to go to school. Read More

  By:

  Columbia Legal Services

• School Rights For Immigrant and Refugee Children and Their Parents in Washington State

  All children living in the United States have a right to go to public school free through 12th grade. Their immigration status does not matter. This publication explains this and other school rights. Publication #1112EN Read More

  By:

  Northwest Justice Project

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español

  Russian / Pусский

• Video - Juvenile Court and Education: Consequences You Should Know

  This short video give a broad overview of the intersection of the courts, education and school discipline and the legal rights of students and their families. Read More

  By:

  Washington State Office of Public Defense

• Video - Your Child's Rights Under the IDEA

  This video describes your child's rights under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. These are federal laws, so the information is true for every state. This video will teach you about setting up an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and what to do if the school is not following the IEP. Read More

  By:

  Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut

  Read this in:

  Spanish / Español