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New Jersey Attorneys For Bullying In Schools And Victims Of Harassment

Alleged Bullying Victim Sues School District

Bullying Or Harassment Of Students · Discrimination In Education

School should be the one place where children can expect to be safe. Yet many school districts are woefully behind the times (or willfully indifferent) in protecting students from harassment, bullying and discrimination by peers or school staff. This is especially true for students of color, students with disabilities and LGBTQ students, but the mistreatment extends to many populations.

If your son or daughter has been subjected to abuse or if you believe the school administration is denying your child a quality education, the student rights attorneys of Costello, Mains & Silverman, LLC, can help. We are well-versed in the New Jersey and federal laws and well-equipped to hold public and private schools accountable for failure to protect students.

Our Mount Laurel law firm handles civil rights litigation in Burlington County, Camden County, surrounding South Jersey and statewide New Jersey. Contact us for a confidential consultation to explore your legal options if your child has been tormented at school.

Burlington County Lawyers For Harassment In Schools

School bullying and harassment remains a widespread and perhaps growing problem. Cellphones and social media have provided a new and often anonymous forum for the tormentors, and the humiliation is broadcast widely and quickly from peer to peer. Bullying and harassment takes many forms, from physical abuse and sexual harassment to verbal taunts and psychological attacks. Victims may become ostracized and withdrawn, leading to depression, anxiety, academic problems, substance abuse, risky behaviors and sometimes self-injury.

Many schools do not have an effective bullying or harassment policy, or do not investigate or enforce the policy. Schools also claim they have no authority to sanction students for cyberbullying or behavior that occurs off of school property. We hold school boards and administrators accountable for their failure to take appropriate action to prevent or stop egregious mistreatment, including:

Advocates For Victims Of School Discrimination

Every student is entitled under federal law to a free, quality public education. Yet students with physical impairments, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, English language deficits and other challenges do not always get the help they need. This is a form of discrimination, and schools can be held accountable for mistreating students, “parking” kids with disabilities, refusal to mainstream students, or refusal to provide assessment and support services.

Schools can also be accountable for sexual assault and sexual harassment by staff, and for discriminating against students on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual identity, sexual orientation or any protected trait. Costello, Mains & Silverman, LLC, pursues legal action relating to educational discrimination, including failure to provide reasonable accommodation under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Standing Up For The Rights Of Children

If your child has been harmed by school-related bullying, harassing or discrimination, contact us today to arrange a confidential consultation with our New Jersey lawyers for bullying in school.