The recent decision of the Appellate Division in Alcantara v. Allen-McMillan (Docket No. A-2493-23), approved for publication on September 8, 2025, underscores a difficult truth about public education in New Jersey. While the court affirmed that the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA)...
The Hidden Curriculum in New Jersey Campus Discipline In July 2025, Inside Higher Ed published an article on the so-called “hidden curriculum” of student conduct proceedings. The piece revealed what attorneys working with students in New Jersey already know: most undergraduates and graduate students...
How Institutional Failures Become Your Defense Understanding the Title IX compliance checklist for 2025 is critical for accused students and their families. Federal rules now demand schools follow strict procedures, and when they fail, those compliance gaps can form the foundation of your defense....
Facing a Title IX complaint before graduation? Learn how delayed investigations can impact your degree, job prospects, and grad school—plus how to protect your rights. Student Rights Defense today.
Public education in New Jersey is in crisis—but not in the way headlines suggest. Behind every statistic about learning loss or absenteeism is a legal failure: students not being found, supported, or reengaged by the very systems designed to serve them. In this guide,...
A groundbreaking analysis published in The Conversation by Markowitz et al. in 2023 reviewed over 3.5 million teacher-written disciplinary comments and found conclusive patterns of racial and gender bias in how educators describe student behavior. Black students, especially boys, were far more likely to...
As school voucher programs gain political traction nationwide, private schools must prepare for rapid legal and regulatory shifts. This article breaks down what voucher acceptance means for admissions, special education, financial compliance, and eligibility—and why working with counsel now is essential.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly integrated into American education, promising efficiency, insights, and safer school environments. But one of its most contested applications—AI surveillance in schools—has become the subject of growing legal and civil rights scrutiny. Marketed as a way to monitor student behavior and...
On June 12, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, affirming that students with disabilities denied a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) may seek compensatory damages under...
Artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every facet of modern life, and unfortunately, its darker applications are now surfacing in schools across the country. At Ratliff Jackson LLP, we’ve seen an increasing number of inquiries from parents, students, and educators facing an alarming new threat:...
For aspiring medical students, few events feel as destabilizing as being named in a Title IX investigation. The ripple effects of such a case can reach far beyond campus boundaries, influencing not only academic standing but also long-term professional goals. Among the most serious...
If you’ve been accused of misconduct under Title IX, the process can feel like it’s stacked against you from the start. Whether you’re a college student in California, a graduate student in New York, or a high school senior in Texas, one thing is...
Understanding When Schools Can — and Cannot — Limit Student Expression Free speech is a foundational right protected by the U.S. Constitution — and students do not give up that right when they enter the classroom. Whether you're in high school or college, knowing...
