Caplan & Earnest is synonymous with education legal services.
We started working with education clients more than 40 years ago, and over that time, Caplan & Earnest’s Education Law practice group has grown to be the largest in the state.
Our experience and diverse client base allow us to pool information and resources, so that legal services are provided in an efficient and cost-effective manner. In fact, we support more than half the school districts in the state with a wide range of legal counsel and support services, from providing legal opinions on topics such as special education and risk management, to defending school districts in litigation, to even serving as outsourced general counsel.
We have earned a national reputation for our work in the area of education law, and have been involved in several landmark legal decisions that have helped shape public education statewide. We represent both large urban and small rural school districts, boards of cooperative education services and other local education agencies.
If you would like to know more about our Education Law services, please contact:
Melissa Barber
Phone: 303-443-8010
Email: mbarber@celaw.com
We Resolve Issues Quickly
In addition to general school board representation, our attorneys have extensive experience in:
- School finance
- Employment law
- Constitutional law
- Charter school management
- Election issues
- Special education
- Section 504/ADA compliance
- Student discipline
- Real estate acquisitions and construction
- Risk management
- School-related litigation
- Appellate work
Our index of legal opinions that covers hundreds of issues minimizes research time and costs for clients, and our approach to each district is unique, given that we tailor solutions to each client’s goals and priorities.
Value-Added Services
We offer clients our perspective and analysis, with updates on relevant legislative and legal matters. We host roundtable discussions and professional development seminars, including webinars, that help busy school administrators gather relevant legal information efficiently, and we are frequently asked to present at key educational conferences.
Whether you are a district seeking counsel, or in-house counsel seeking support in a specialty area, our team is ready to assist you in your efforts to establish or manage agreements, remain compliant or defend or initiate litigation.
Education Law Trainings
Our attorneys are available for, and frequently provide, in-service trainings for board members, administrators and staff. Recent trainings have addressed:
- Colorado School Board Service: Legal and Practical Issues
- Manage Threats to School Safety Involving Students with Disabilities
- Respond to Student Misconduct
- Understand Child Find Obligations and Other IDEA Basics
- Comply with Restraint and Seclusion Requirements
- Examine the Anatomy of a School District Contract
- Investigate and Effectively Address Employee Misconduct
- Colorado Open Records Act: Legal and Practical Issues
- Evaluate Methods of Building a School
- Comply with Section 504 Obligations
- Support Employees with Disabilities
- Respond to Sexual Abuse in the Schools
- Distinguish Types of Employee Leave
- Understand the Colorado Protections for Public Workers Act (PROPWA)
- Addressing Sex-Based Discrimination in Schools in Compliance with Title IX
$1500 for a 90-minute training, plus travel costs if in person. Trainings may be customized, ask for a quote. Please contact Tina Williams for more information.
Masterminds Professional Development Series
Special Education and Section 504 Administrators have tremendous influence on the experiences of families, students with disabilities, and fellow educators. Carrying this responsibility well allows you drive meaningful results for your teams and students, and we have the program designed to help you realize your potential, month over month, throughout the entire school year. Join emerging leaders throughout Colorado to increase your productivity, capacity, and connection as part of the Caplan & Earnest Masterminds Program.
- Learn the weak points in structures and procedures that expose teams to legal disputes
- Share real-world challenges and concerns
- Hear and understand different viewpoints
- Define, refine, and recommit to your priorities
- Form connections with bright and dedicated leaders just like you
