Education Law: Legal Compliance in K–12, Practical IEP Implementation, Communication, and Dispute Prevention (2026 Edition)

Rachel Reight | Baasten, McKinley & Co., L.P.A

Rachel Reight is a managing partner at Baasten, McKinley & Co., L.P.A., where she focuses her practice on labor and employment law, with a particular emphasis on education law and the representation of public employees. She has extensive experience in administrative law, advocating for clients before the State Employment Relations Board, the Ohio State Board of Education, and the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation/Industrial Commission. Additionally, she represents clients in children’s services and police investigations, as well as labor and employment litigation in state and federal courts.

Ms. Reight is an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Labor and Employment Law. She was an Ohio State Bar Foundation Fellow (2025) and a Leadership Ohio Fellow (2025). She is actively involved in the Ohio State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Law Section and served as President of the Ohio Public Employees Lawyer Association (OPELA) (2025-2026). She has been recognized as a Rising Star by Ohio Super Lawyers in 2017 and 2018.

A dedicated educator and advocate, Ms. Reight frequently speaks at workshops for public educators, school employees, and county developmental disabilities board employees across Northeast Ohio. She also volunteers as a Judicial Panelist for high school and undergraduate mock trial competitions, supporting programs hosted by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Kent State University, and the American Mock Trial Association.

Ms. Reight earned her B.A. from The Ohio State University and her J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Dana Jonson | Law Offices of Dana Jonson

Dana Jonson is a Connecticut-based civil rights attorney whose private practice primarily focuses on special education law, representing children with disabilities and their families through every stage of the process. She is the author of Navigating Special Education: A Parent’s Guide to Rights and Advocacy (June 2025) and host of Special Ed on Special Ed, a podcast featuring expert conversations on challenges, opportunities, and resources for families of children with special needs.

A former special education teacher and administrator with K–12 certification in Intensive Special Needs, Dana holds a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law, an M.S.Ed. from Simmons College, and a B.S. in Psychology from Fairfield University. Her advocacy is informed by her experience as the mother of five children with special education needs and as a foster parent, blending legal expertise with deep empathy. She is admitted to the Connecticut State and Federal Bar and the U.S. Supreme Court, and is active in multiple professional and advocacy organizations.

Session I – Navigating K–12 Education Law: Special Education, Student Privacy, Title IX, and Emerging Tech Risks | 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Special education foundations (IDEA & Section 504)
  • Purpose and statutory framework of IDEA and Section 504
  • Eligibility criteria and the distinctions between IEPs and 504 Plans
  • The IEP process: Evaluations, meetings, timelines, and “free appropriate public education” (FAPE)
  • Procedural safeguards and parent participation rights
  • Common disputes: Behavior interventions, placement decisions, related services, and manifestation determinations
• Student privacy & confidentiality
  • FERPA: What it protects, what it does not, and frequent misunderstandings
  • Access rights for parents vs. students; exceptions to consent requirements
  • Records relevant in litigation, employee discipline, and subpoenas
  • Intersection with state public records laws
  • Professional boundaries for educators regarding photographs, classroom recordings, and digital communication
• Title IX in K–12 Settings
  • General review of Title IX obligations for public school districts
  • Definition of sexual harassment and scope of “education program or activity”
  • Required responses, mandatory reporting, and practical challenges for administrators and staff
  • Basics of investigations, supportive measures, and grievance procedures
  • Intersection with employment law when an accused party is a school employee
  • Regulatory landscape and anticipated federal changes
• Technology in schools: Legal risks & emerging issues
  • Use of artificial intelligence in classrooms and by staff
  • Risks related to algorithmic decision-making, surveillance tools, and data security
  • School-provided devices, email, and expectations of privacy
  • Social media pitfalls for educators and administrators
  • Cyberbullying, student speech, and off-campus conduct in the digital age

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

Session II – The IEP in Practice: Advanced Strategies for Implementation, Communication, and Conflict Prevention in Special Education | 2:10pm – 3:10pm

• Communication and the IEP process
  • How communication breakdowns fuel disputes
  • Principles of transparent, honest, consistent communication
  • Structuring IEP meetings to reduce confusion and escalation
  • Documentation that protects students, families, and schools
• Evaluations and independent educational evaluations (IEEs)
  • Why evaluations are a common source of disagreement
  • Elements of a meaningful, comprehensive evaluation
  • Legal framework for IEEs and district options
  • When agreeing to an IEE is strategically preferable to due process
• Writing and implementing measurable, defensible IEPs
  • Present levels as the foundation for goals and services
  • Goals that specify prompting or independence
  • Using objective data rather than purely subjective measures
  • Aligning goals, services, accommodations, and staff capacity
• Behavior, discipline, and high-conflict situations
  • Designing and implementing effective behavior intervention plans
  • Managing manifestation determinations
  • Coordinating general education, special education, and related services
  • Balancing safety, access, and legal requirements
• Disagreement, dispute prevention, and resolution pathways
  • Parent options when the IEP seems inappropriate or not implemented
  • School responses that preserve trust and meet procedural safeguards
  • Early warning signs of a deteriorating team relationship
  • Mediation, complaints, and due process as last-resort tools