Education Law Maine
Maine Cyberstalking and Digital Harassment Laws: What Constitutes a Crime?
In the digital age, harassment rarely stops at your front door. Scorned ex-partners, obsessive acquaintances, and anonymous trolls can invade your life 24/7 through your smartphone...
Legal Remedies for Unlawful Restraint and Seclusion in Maine Public Schools
Sending your child to school should never mean sending them into a dangerous environment. Yet, for many children with disabilities-particularly those with autism, ADHD, or trauma h...
Requesting an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at Public Expense in Maine
Securing the right special education services for your child begins with accurate testing. Unfortunately, school district evaluations are sometimes rushed, incomplete, or conducted...
Divorced Parents' Rights to Access Student Records and Attend IEP Meetings in Maine
Being left off school email blasts, denied login credentials to the Infinite Campus or PowerSchool parent portal, or excluded from an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting...
Maine Student Cell Phone Searches: Fourth Amendment Privacy vs. School Authority
A vice principal at a high school in Portland, Lewiston, or Bangor takes a junior's phone after a rumor about a fight video. Then the vice principal demands the passcode and scroll...
Holding Maine School Districts Liable for Systemic Bullying: A Parent's Legal Guide
Every child has the right to learn in a safe, supportive environment. Unfortunately, systemic bullying, physical assaults, and online harassment are pervasive issues in today's edu...
Defending Your Maine Teaching Credential Against Educator Credentialing Investigations
Receiving an official notice of investigation from the certification office in Augusta or being placed on administrative leave by a school superintendent in Portland, Lewiston, or...
Fighting Suspensions for Vaping, Marijuana, and Drug Possession in Maine Public Schools
Across Maine, school administrators are cracking down hard on substance use. From rural high schools to large districts in Portland and Augusta, the number of students suspended fo...
Student Walkouts and Political Protests in Maine Public Schools: Legal Rights and Limits
Public schools are meant to be a place of learning, but they are also environments where young citizens first learn to exercise their civic voices. From climate change strikes to g...
The Complete Guide to School Board Expulsion Hearings in Maine: Timelines, Rights, and Procedures
Finding out your child is facing expulsion is one of the most terrifying moments for a parent. Expulsion does not just mean finding a new school; it can derail a student's entire e...
Refusing the Pledge of Allegiance and Anthem Protests in Maine Classrooms
Every morning in public schools across Maine, the school day begins with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. While many students gladly participate, others choose to remain...
Off-Campus Social Media Rants and Student Speech Protections in Maine
In the digital age, the boundary between school and home has become blurred. Students in Westbrook, Biddeford, and Waterville often use platforms like Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagr...
Maine High School Student Newspaper Censorship: Hazelwood Doctrine and Editorial Rights
A student editor at a high school in Portland, Lewiston, or Bangor spends weeks reporting on vaping in the bathrooms or a badly handled harassment complaint. Then the principal pul...
Defending Students with IEPs and 504 Plans from Expulsion in Maine: Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDR)
When a student in general education breaks a major school rule, the district can quickly move to suspend or expel them. However, when a student receives special education services...
How to File for a Special Education Due Process Hearing in Maine
When a public school district in Maine fails to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) to a child with disabilities, parents often feel powerless. Whether the school re...
How to Obtain a Protection from Harassment (PFH) Order in Maine: Costs, Timeline, and Process
Nobody should have to live in fear of being followed, repeatedly threatened, or harassed. In Maine, the legal system provides a powerful tool to stop this behavior: the Protection...
Political T-Shirts and Expressive Dress in Maine Classrooms
A Bangor sophomore shows up in a U.S. Senate campaign shirt. A Portland junior wears a Pride pin, and a South Portland student wears a Back the Blue hoodie. In each case an assista...