Self-help information through various links, documents, publications, etc. Check the Community Directory Channel for more resources.
There are 36 resources
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Civil Rights
Civil Rights about Education
(Separate Website)
This site provides answers to frequently asked questions about civil rights and education.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights about Education
(Separate Website)
This site provides answers to frequently asked questions about civil rights and education.
By: U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights in Schools: Resources for the LGBT Community
(Separate Website)
This web site contains civil rights information and resources for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transsexual community.
By: LAMBDA Legal Defense & Education Fund
Stopping the Anti-Gay Abuse of Students in Public Schools
(Separate Website)
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund provides this booklet to help the many students who are enduring the pain of anti-gay hatred and violence in public schools. It suggests steps for students, parents, family members, educators, and concerned citizens to join others who have begun to fight back against the hatred that causes young lesbians and gay men to attempt suicide at an alarming rate. Lambda has compiled this manual as an important extension to our victory in the first lawsuit to challenge anti-gay abuse in schools.
By: LAMBDA Legal Defense & Education Fund
Family
Education of Children and Youth in Homeless Situations
(Separate Website)
Almost 15 years ago, Congress passed a law giving children and youth in homeless situations the right to go to school, no matter where they live or how long they have lived there. This handbook explains your rights to have your children (1) stay in school even if you have moved, (2) enroll in sa new school without proof of residency, immunizations, school records or other papers, (3) get transportation to school, (4) go to pre-school programs, (5) get all the school services they need, (6) have disagreements with schools settled quickly, and (7) go to the school they choose while the disagreements are settled. Available only in PDF format.
By: National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty
Exceptional Family Member Program
(Separate Website)
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program that works with other military and civilian agencies to provide comprehensive and coordinated community support, housing, and educational, medical, and personnel services to families with special needs. An exceptional family member is a family member (child or adult) with any physical, emotional, developmental, or intellectual disorder that requires special treatment, therapy, education, training, or counseling.
By: Army Community Service
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
(Separate Website)
FERPA gives parents the right to ALL educational records of their child—not just the special education file. The statute specifies that parents have access to all “personally identifiable information” of the student. "Educational record" is defined as records that are directly related to a student, and maintained by an educational agency or institution.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Least Restrictive Environment-Full Inclusion-Mainstreaming
(Separate Website)
Call it whatever you want, but the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to ensure: “…to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities,…are educated with children who are not disabled and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.” [20 U.S.C. 1412(5)(B)]
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
No Child Left Behind
(Separate Website)
No Child Left Behind is designed to change the culture of America's schools by closing the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving parents more options, and teaching students based on what works.
Under the act's accountability provisions, states must describe how they will close the achievement gap and make sure all students, including those who are disadvantaged, achieve academic proficiency. They must produce annual state and school district report cards that inform parents and communities about state and school progress. Schools that do not make progress must provide supplemental services, such as free tutoring or after-school assistance; take corrective actions; and, if still not making adequate yearly progress after five years, make dramatic changes to the way the school is run.
Prior Written Notice-A Good Special Education Strategy
(Separate Website)
One easy and effective strategy available to parents who disagree with a school about special education for their child is to request that the school (or school district) notify the parents in writing of all proposed changes in, or refusals to change, their child’s special educational program. IDEA regulations (34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.503) require a school to give parents written notice a reasonable time before it acts regarding their child’s identification, evaluation or educational placement. Though required, prior written notice is rarely given unless parents request it.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Protections for Students not yet Classified as Special Education
(Separate Website)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides several protections for students with disabilities. Some of these protections extend to students not yet identified as IDEA eligible when they are suspended or expelled from school. These safeguards apply only IF the school district had knowledge that the student had a disability before the behavior that led to disciplinary action.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Related Services-A Very Important Part of Special Education
(Separate Website)
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires Related Services to be given to a student with a disability who needs them in order to benefit from the education being offered.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Rights of Students without Permanent Housing Brochure
(Separate Website)
PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
U.S. Army Reserve Family Support Education
(Separate Website)
This web page contains information about Army Reserve family educational benefits.
By: U.S. Army Reserves
Other Resources
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) & Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: College Students
(Separate Website)
If you are a college student and you have a disability, two federal laws protect you from discrimination based on your disability.Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination by state funded schools such as state universities, community colleges and vocational schools. If you feel that a state funded school has discriminated against you because of your disability you may have a claim under Title II of the ADA. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 also protects college students with disabilities. Under this law any school that receives federal funds may not discriminate on the basis of a disability. Most (but not all) post-secondary schools receive federal funding in the form of federal grants to pay student tuition.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Assistive Technology and Special Education
(Separate Website)
Assistive Technology Device: An assistive technology (AT) device is any item used to maintain or improve the educational capabilities of a student with a disability. Assistive Technology Service: An assistive technology (AT) service is any service that assists in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. This includes evaluations, modifications, maintenance and repair of assistive technology devices, as well as training for the student, family and school personnel in the use of such devices.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Building Strong Rural Schools: The Foundations We Need
(Separate Website)
Report on the state of South Carolina's rural schools and what we need to enable them to improve. PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
Education Evaluation
(Separate Website)
Children with disabilities have a right to a free appropriate public education under both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
By: Protection and Advocacy for People with Disabilities
Education Rights and the Law
(Separate Website)
Answers to frequently asked questions concerning attendance, enrollment and home schooling, high school exit exam, and fees. PDF document (may load slowly).
By: South Carolina Bar Association
Education: Information for Students
(Separate Website)
These web pages contain information for students about schools and education, including (1) Learning resources, (2) Keeping my school safe & drug-free, (3) Preparing for my future, (4) Finding a college, (5) Paying for college, (6) Returning to school, and (7) Getting involved in my community
By: U.S. Department of Education
Adobe Acrobat Reader required. (If you are using a screen reader that does not support PDF format, copy the PDF link, and use the Access Adobe online form to convert this file to HMTL text.)
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