Education Law
Every Student. Every Right.
Education law protects a child’s right to a free and appropriate education, and gives families a voice when a school falls short of that promise.
At Skeldon Law, we help families navigate disputes over special education services, disability accommodations, discrimination, and school discipline. We work directly with school districts, and when needed, through mediation, due process hearings, or federal court, to protect a student’s right to learn.
When a School Falls Short
If your child has been denied services, placed inappropriately, treated unfairly because of their sex or disability, or disciplined without the protections the law requires, you have the right to challenge that decision.
At Skeldon Law, we represent families in matters including:
- IEP and 504 Plan disputes over services, accommodations, or placement
- Disability-related discrimination when a school fails to provide legally required support
- Title IX and discrimination matters, including sex-based discrimination, harassment, and school investigations
- Mediation and due process hearings to resolve disputes directly with the school district
- Federal court advocacy when litigation is necessary to enforce a student’s rights
- Student discipline matters, including suspension, expulsion, and manifestation determination reviews
You don’t have to navigate the system alone.
We help you understand your options and pursue the outcome your child deserves.
Skeldon Law Brings Firsthand Experience to Every Case
Before founding Skeldon Law, Mark spent years as a Toledo Public Schools teacher, including several years leading Ella P. Stewart’s Student Assistance Team, the group of teachers, psychologists, and administrators who build support plans for students with disabilities.
That firsthand experience with IEPs and 504 Plans, and with the obstacles families face when a school falls short, now shapes how he represents students and families in education disputes, from IEP and Section 504 negotiations to Title IX matters, mediation, due process hearings, and federal court advocacy when a resolution can’t be reached.
Understanding Education Law
Education law governs the rights students are guaranteed under federal and state law, and the processes school districts must follow when those rights are at stake. At Skeldon Law, we focus on the areas that most often affect a student’s access to an appropriate education: special education services, discrimination, dispute resolution, and discipline.
IEP and 504 Plan Disputes
Children with disabilities are entitled to appropriate services and support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Disputes often arise when a school proposes an inadequate placement, denies requested services, or fails to implement a plan as written.
We help families challenge these decisions and pursue the services their child is legally entitled to receive.
Disability-Related Discrimination
Schools are required to provide the support and accommodations a student’s disability calls for. When a school fails to meet that obligation, whether through inaction, delay, or an inadequate response, it can amount to unlawful discrimination.
We help families identify when this has occurred and pursue a remedy.
Title IX and Discrimination
Title IX and other education discrimination laws protect students from being denied a fair education based on sex, disability, or other protected status. Disputes often arise from school investigations into alleged misconduct, unequal treatment, or a school’s failure to respond appropriately to reports of discrimination or harassment.
We help families respond to school investigations, challenge unfair treatment, and pursue accountability when a student’s rights have been violated.
Mediation and Due Process Hearings
Children with disabilities are entitled to appropriate services and support under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Disputes often arise when a school proposes an inadequate placement, denies requested services, or fails to implement a plan as written.
We help families challenge these decisions and pursue the services their child is legally entitled to receive.
Litigation
When a school district violates a student’s rights and a resolution can’t be reached through mediation or due process, litigation may be necessary. We represent families in State and Federal court to enforce the protections education law provides.
Student Discipline Matters
Students facing suspension, expulsion, or other serious disciplinary action have important due process rights, including, in many cases, a manifestation determination review to assess whether the conduct was related to the student’s disability.
We help families understand these proceedings and advocate for outcomes that protect the student’s educational future.
If your child’s school has denied services, treated them unfairly, proposed discipline, or failed to meet its legal obligations, you deserve a legal team that treats your family with the same care Mark brought to his years in the classroom. At Skeldon Law, we guide you through each step of the process, answer your questions, and advocate for the outcome your child deserves.
Call 567-600-6898
