YELP represented a family and their high school daughter with a history of emotional disturbance, but who was adjusting well both socially and academically, had become involved in school activities and was a few months away from graduation. When the student’s school district suddenly (and without any notice or clear justification) issued a Prior Written Notice of their intent to transfer her to a nonpublic school, the family turned to YELP for assistance. Among their many concerns was that this was not only a completely inappropriate placement, but the timing of the transfer would be especially damaging to our client, who by all accounts – including her teachers – was thriving in her current high school setting.

With the family at an impasse, YELP sought additional facts from the district and family, spoke with the daughter, mother, and father, and ultimately decided to participate in due process proceedings. YELP prepared a detailed complaint and filed it with the Office of Administrative Hearings and requested mediation. As a result of mediation, the District offered to settle—granting the family everything they asked for in the complaint! Our client would be able to graduate from her high school, while receiving accommodations, and most of all she would finally have some peace of mind as she finished out her senior year. After a full day of mediation, our clients decided to settle with the school district—avoiding the need for stressful, lengthy and expensive due process hearings.

Letter from our client a couple of months after the mediation:

Dear Abigail and student team,

Hi!! So glad to be writing this letter to you as a high school graduate! I wanted to personally thank each and every one of you for everything you guys have done to help me achieve this. High school was very rough for me from the very start. Between mental struggles, hard teachers, school staffing, and student bullies, etc, it was not an easy road to say the least.

I am now very happy to say that road was traveled and completed. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into me and my case and just my life. You helped make this happen and I am eternally grateful for everything you guys have done. I hope you are all doing well and thank you for letting me be able to start my own college journey this fall.

Winter 2022 Clinical Law Student Team: Tess Bissell, Elora Henderson and Yi Li
Social Work Intern: Huma Ali