Title IX Considerations for Parents in Stamford
As a parent, it is more than understandable to still want to be involved in your child’s life after they go away to college. Legally speaking, though, most college and university students are at least 18 years old and considered to be independent adults. This means that you, as their parent or legal guardian, may not have a legal right to know everything about your child’s academic career or about their legal troubles.
If your child has been accused of violating someone else’s Title IX rights or has reported that their own Title IX rights have been violated, there are several things you should know about how federal law governs cases of this nature and what your rights are in relation to your child. With that in mind, here is a basic overview of important Title IX considerations for parents in Stamford, all of which our experienced Title IX lawyers can discuss during a confidential consultation.
Will Parents Be Informed About Title IX Allegations?
Perhaps the most important thing for parents to know about Title IX cases in Stamford and throughout Connecticut is that if your child is 18 years of age or older and involved in any way in a Title IX case, their school generally will not inform the parent(s) about that case. In fact, even if the parent(s) contact the school directly, no one involved in the administration will provide any information about an ongoing Title IX claim involving your child other than essential details about how the Title IX case process broadly works.
This is because federal law prohibits schools from notifying or contacting the parents of people involved in Title IX proceedings unless that school receives explicit permission from an involved party to inform their parent(s). In this context, explicit permission entails the involved party signing a waiver that allows their school’s Title IX coordinator to step outside the boundaries set by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
How Parents Can—and Cannot—Assist Their Children in Title IX Cases
If a parent is lawfully informed of their child’s involvement in a Title IX case while at school in Stamford or elsewhere, that parent can serve as their child’s advisor during the ensuing Title IX proceedings undertaken by their child’s school. It is important to know that people involved in Title IX proceedings can only have one person act as their advisor. If you choose to fill that role for your child, your child cannot also have professional legal representation accompany them into hearings or any other formal proceedings related to their case.
Furthermore, schools investigating allegations of Title IX rights violations are not legally permitted to report those allegations to law enforcement, and the only person with legal standing to make such a report is the person who made the allegations in the first place. If a Title IX case does ultimately lead to criminal charges being filed, ensuring your child has representation from a seasoned private attorney may be vital to protecting their best interests.
A Stamford Attorney Can Further Explain Title IX Considerations for Parents
To a significant extent, the rules and regulations established by Title IX prohibit parents and guardians of people involved in these proceedings from being directly involved. However, if your child is under 18 years old, or if they are over 18 and have explicitly given permission for you to be informed about their Title IX case, there may be ways you can proactively help protect their rights.
In the meantime, if you have further questions about Title IX considerations for parents in Stamford, a knowledgeable Title IX lawyer from Mark Sherman Law can provide the answers and information you need. Call today for a consultation, and click here to read verified reviews from satisfied past clients on our Avvo.com profile.