California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) held an Education Rights Workshop. Moderators outlined ways to advocate during a manifestation determination review.
The manifestation determination review (MDR) helps prevent disability discrimination in schools. In California, it is required when a student with an IEP or Section 504 plan faces disciplinary removal that results in a change of placement or suspension. Workshops help parents and advocates understand this process and how to respond effectively.
To further explore local challenges, Kern Sol News contacted NLSLA and CRLA to discuss educational challenges, local trends, and the value of the workshops in their counties.
CRLA provides free civil legal assistance across rural and low-income communities statewide, with a focus on rural outreach. Similarly, NLSLA provides free legal services to low-income individuals and families in Los Angeles County, with six offices and regional self-help centers.
Highlighting her clients’ shared experiences, Hannah Meza, an Equal Justice Works fellow and NLSLA attorney, explained that many in Los Angeles County, especially in the Antelope Valley, face justice access challenges similar to those in Kern County. This connection underscores the widespread need for legal support across regions.
Eduardo Medina, CRLA associate director overseeing offices from Tulare to Los Angeles, emphasized the need for education advocacy and empowering communities to self-advocate.
“Many issues don’t require an attorney, and the education code allows non-attorney advocates, so there’s real potential to train many education advocates to help others,” said Medina.
Expanding on local disciplinary trends, Medina noted a common pattern in Kern County: a high frequency of student disciplinary actions, such as suspensions and expulsions.
“We see disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates for students of color,” Medina said.
He shared cases where a student’s first offense still led to expulsion recommendations. These workshops train attendees to handle such issues and prepare for expulsion hearings. They also equip participants with strategies to advocate for students’ rights and better outcomes.
Meza noted that in the Antelope Valley, districts often respond strictly to Black students with disabilities.
“We see many suspensions and informal removals, which often lead to expulsions and law enforcement referrals. These workshops prepare parents for these situations,” Meza said.
When students are out of school for more than 10 days, meetings must review the disciplinary action and ensure protections for students with disabilities. These workshops help families understand the process and offer tools to protect students’ rights. Parents and advocates should participate, use the resources, and advocate for their students.
Building on this, Meza added that workshops offer an opportunity to review whether the IEP is being implemented correctly. They also help determine if the behavior is strongly connected to the student’s disability.
Meza explained the importance of understanding what an MDR can accomplish, as it is a protection under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that helps prevent unnecessary student discipline and disability discrimination.
Advocates and parents are recommended to request a student’s records (Academic, Disciplinary, Functional Behavior Assessment, Behaviour Intervention Plan). Taking this step and attending workshops helps strengthen preparation and empowers parents and advocates to take action in defense of students’ rights.
In order to determine whether a student’s behaviour was in correlation to their disability, a team must consider two options: Was the conduct in question caused by or has a direct or substantial relationship to the student’s disability, or was the behaviour a direct result of the school’s failure to implement the student’s IEP or 504 Plan?
A school cannot take disciplinary action against a student if the answer to either question is yes, because it means the student’s conduct was related to their disability.
For further information and guidance, all materials have been made public by the NLSLA and can be found here: NLSLA Education Rights MDR Information.
