Michelle Alissa Ball
Student Attorney and Advocate
Michelle Ball has represented students throughout California since 1995 in expulsion, suspension, special education, 504, sports, bullying, Title IX, discrimination and many other student matters.
Michelle assists parents and students with public and private, pre-K, elementary, middle school and high school problems, as well as college difficulties, across California.
Michelle is located in Sacramento and has a highly informative website and blog on student education issues.
https://edlaw4students.com/
https://edlaw4students.com/blog/
- University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
- J.D. (1994)
- Honors: Graduated "With Distinction," top 25% of class
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- Univ of California Santa Barbara
- B.A. (1991) | Law & Society
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- Owner/attorney
- Law Office of Michelle Ball
- - Current
- Education attorney for students assisting with expulsion, suspension, discipline, transfer, special education, 504, sports, attendance, harassment, discrimination, and most other education law issues. Helping students in public and private schools, at all grade levels, including pre-school, elementary, junior high, high school, and college since 1995.
- California State Bar # 173429
- Member
- - Current
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- California
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Credit Cards Accepted
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover
- Education Law
- English: Spoken, Written
- Q. What type of attorney for cyberbullying with physical threats towards a minor?
- A: You need a education attorney who represents students. Often schools don't address bullying despite their legal obligations until a parent brings someone in.
They are mandated to address school bullying, but they have discretion on how they will do that.
It is unclear, however, from the post, if this is happening off campus during non-school hours. There may be more limited obligations if it may be, but it has to be evaluated on a case by case basis.
Good luck.
- Q. Son removed from baseball team for standing up to bullying; coach claims disrespect. What can be done?
- A: This is a tough situation- you definitely need to locate the sports policies for the team or generally (e.g. for all sports at that school), and challenge it based on those. You may need to go above their heads. It is possible there is a policy of good sportsmanship that the Coach could try to use...it is unclear, however, what the breach was, or its basis exactly, until you have the rules.
If you can't get them, you have to go with "reasonableness" arguments or use the general extracurricular policies if there are any, but there is probably a sports policy somewhere that you or he may have signed or been provided at some point.
Good luck.
- Q. Can a school administrator listen to my phone call with a teacher without acknowledging they were there?
- A: Schools usually back their teachers, right or wrong. There is no law that precludes other staff from being present. Perhaps in the future, ask if anyone else is there?
Private schools often include a term in their contracts allowing the private school to terminate students due to "disruptive" parents, so you may want to review their Handbook and other contract documents to see where this may be heading. Also, what they find as "disruptive" may be very different from what you think.... It is sometimes difficult to navigate.
Good luck.
Bullied Students Have School Transfer Priority. Victims Rights (California Law)
Bullying in school, victims rights, school transfers. What can parents and students do? California law can help victims of bullying. Know your rights!
Can
If the parent removes the student from the school or school district prior to the expulsion hearing, can the school district still expel the student? Know Your Rights!
Do Schools Have To Follow Student 504 Plans? Yes!
504s are legally binding documents which obligate schools to do the things required by the 504 Plan. 504 Plans are powerful. A 504 Plan is a written document for a qualified disabled student, which lists out various accommodations which the school is supposed to put in place while the student is at school. Teachers, school, and district staff may be bound by a 504.
Expulsion Notices Have To Contain These Things To Be Legal
Expulsion notices have minimum legal requirements that have to be met in California to be legitimate.
Heavy College Discipline Agreements For Minor Allegations Are Bad
College students facing discipline allegations may be desperate to resolve allegations against them, even if they may be false. Sadly, sometimes distressed university students sign bad agreements due to fear.
How To Get An Interdistrict Transfer
Here is how a parent can get an interdistrict school transfer for a student in California.
How To Get Schools To Actually Implement A 504 Plan
Once a parent actually HAS a 504 plan for a student, the fight has just begun. There is a difference between having a 504 plan on paper and actually getting it carried out in school. Here is how you get schools to implement student 504 plans.
How To Stop Military Recruiters At High Schools From Talking To Your Child
Don't want your high schooler recruited by the military? Here's what parents can do.
Physical Assault Means No More High School Sports
What is a PHYSICAL assault on a sports official, referee, umpire, coach or other game or event official? Can a student be banned from sports and if so how do you lift a ban? What is the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)?
School Exclusions Under Title IX (Sex Harassment) Can Be Brutal
Sudden exclusions for sexual harassment under the federal law, Title IX, are devastating students. Students may be moved or pushed out of their regular school environment while the Title IX process progresses, and may face even harsher discipline, such as expulsion, after the Title IX process concludes. Parents need to know about this difficult law.
Sixteen Rights Parents May Not Know They Have
Can a parent question anything in their child's records? Can you refuse psychological testing? Can you observe your child
Special Education and Bullying- How To Get More Help
Parents can get help from the special education IEP team when a special needs student is bullied, or bullies.
Special Education Meetings Are Powerful, When Should An IEP Be Requested?
Sometimes a special education meeting, aka an IEP, should be requested by a parent. Find out when.
Suspension and Expulsion of Innocent Students
School discipline can be imposed even if a student is innocent. When a student is up for school punishment, such as suspension or expulsion, everyone presumes they
Teachers Must Now Spy And Report California Students Scary Writings
Did you know that teachers in California must report students for things they write which could show homicidal intent, in their journals, papers, or in other locations. Schools are now secret spies and this can lead to trouble for kids who scribble a weapon on a page or write a horror story.
Want To Fight A School Expulsion? Don't Do These Things!
Avoid these things at student expulsion hearings!
What To Say At A School Expulsion Hearing To Get A Better Outcome
Tips on what to say at a student expulsion hearing to get a better result