Get Help

Disability Discrimination in School

School districts are not allowed to discriminate against students with disabilities. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a civil rights law that protects students with disabilities by requiring public schools to meet their educational needs as adequately as the needs of non-disabled students. Section 504 also says that students…

Issues & Rights

Student & Children’s Rights

Florida Court System

The Florida court system is made up of three federal district courts, a state supreme court, a state court of appeals, and trial courts. Each court has general and limited jurisdiction and serves a different purpose. Jurisdiction is a word to describe both the geographical location of the court’s service…

Issues & Rights

School Expulsion or Suspension

Suspensions and/or expulsions are a form of school discipline. School discipline is a required set of actions by a district towards a student (or a group of students) after their behavior disrupts the ongoing educational activity or breaks a pre-established rule created by the school system. This is based upon…

Issues & Rights

Student & Children’s Rights

The mission and tradition of the Children’s Rights Unit of Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF) is to provide equal access and opportunity to all children in the State of Florida, especially those discriminated against due to their disabilities, race, nationality, gender or LGBTQ status. To fulfill our mission, CLSMF…

Issues & Rights

Student & Children’s Rights

Students with Exceptional Needs

Under federal and state law, each school district that accepts federal funding has a “child find” duty. This means that it is the school’s responsibility to identify all children in the school district who need exceptional (also known as “special”) student education services. This responsibility to find and support children…

Issues & Rights

Student & Children’s Rights