Lozano Smith's Student Practice Group is recognized statewide for its steadfast, proactive and creative assistance to school districts and expertise on a broad range of student issues, due to the large number of school districts that we represent and the fact that we have represented schools for more than 35 years.

Areas of Practice

To best serve the needs and promote the success of its clients, the firm's Student Practice Group has broad expertise in:

• Student Free Speech Rights
• Student Publications
• Dress Codes
• Religion in Schools
• Search & Seizure
• Constitutional Due Process
• The Equal Access Act
• Jurisdiction for Discipline
• Suspension & Expulsion
• Expulsion Hearings
• Rehabilitation Plans
• Alternative Discipline
• Expulsion Appeals
• Involuntary Transfers
• Continuation Schools
• Student Fees & Charges
• Student Records
• Directory Information
• Access to Records
• Grade Changes
• Custody & Education Rights
• Caregiver Affidavits
• Retention of Records
• Public Records Act
• Law Enforcement at School
• Gang-Related Activity
• Child Abuse Reporting
• Megan's Law
• Media Access to Campus
• Community Day Schools
• Compulsory Education
• Student Residency
• Residency Verification
• Student Truancy & SARB
• All Student Transfers
• Open Enrollment
• Extracurricular Activities
• Student Athletics
• Athletic Eligibility
• Student Drug Testing
• Title IX, Title XI, Section 504
• Harassment & Discrimination
• Cyberbullying
• Graduation Requirements
• Promotion & Retention
• Electronic Records Systems

Title IX

Lozano Smith’s Title IX Practice Area is comprised of specialists dedicated to the pressing issues faced clients. From athletics to sexual violence, this team advises, trains, and educates clients on the various components of Title IX – from prevention and mitigation to investigations resulting in disciplinary action. Areas in which the group provides advice and training include:

  • Athletics, including audits of athletic programs
  • Sex-based discrimination
  • Pregnant and parenting students
  • Single-sex education
  • Issues relating to transgender and students
  • Developing and auditing complaint grievance procedures and policies
  • Responding to reports of sexual misconduct and harassment
  • Investigating complaints of sexual misconduct and harassment
  • Title IX Coordinator roles and responsibilities
  • District and employee liability
  • Reporting obligations
  • Interaction with law enforcement agencies
  • Discipline of students
  • Litigation
  • VAWA/Clery Act
  • Trainings
Read More

Real World Applications

The Student Practice Group at Lozano Smith understands the hurdles and opportunities facing its clients, and has an unsurpassed level of experience and expertise to protect the interests and promote the success of school districts, their staff and students. Of particular significance is the firm's leadership in student discipline matters. Lozano Smith regularly helps districts to develop comprehensive policies and regulations aimed at preventing student discipline problems, as well as all other policy issues impacting student rights, including student speech, student clubs, student transfers, and student fees, to name only a few. When discipline problems do surface, the firm provides practical advice and assistance as to all aspects of suspensions, expulsions, involuntary transfers and alternative forms of discipline.

Sacramento, Fresno abivins@lozanosmith.com
Amanda J. Cordova Senior Counsel
Los Angeles, San Diego acordova@lozanosmith.com
Anna M. Wood Associate
Los Angeles awood@lozanosmith.com
Sacramento, San Luis Obispo colsonmurphy@lozanosmith.com
Sacramento, San Diego dmaruccia@lozanosmith.com
Emma J. Sol Associate
Walnut Creek esol@lozanosmith.com
Erin  Frazor Senior Counsel
Josh  Walden Senior Counsel
Joshua  Whiteside Senior Counsel
San Luis Obispo jwhiteside@lozanosmith.com
Walnut Creek, Sacramento, San Diego krezendes@lozanosmith.com
Kendra G. Tovey Senior Counsel
Komey  Vishakan Senior Counsel
Michael E. Smith Of Counsel
Sacramento, Fresno, San Luis Obispo msmith@lozanosmith.com
Ryan P. Tung Partner
Los Angeles, Walnut Creek rtung@lozanosmith.com

New Legislation Expands "School of Origin" to Include Nonpublic Schools for Foster Students with IEPs

By:Alyssa Bivins, Stephanie Holtz -

February 2024Number 9On October 13, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (AB) 723, which expands the definition of “school of origin” to include nonpublic, nonsectarian schools for foster children with exceptional needs. A “nonpublic, nonsectarian school,” or NPS, means a private, nonsectarian school that is certified by the California Department of Education and enrolls individuals with exceptional needs pursuant to their individualized education programs ...

Recent Bills Focus on Preventing Opioid Overdoses

By:Jennifer Baldassari, Nisha Dale -

January 2024Number 5Governor Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill (AB) 889, Senate Bill (SB) 10, and SB 234, which focus on preventing opioid overdoses in California public schools.AB 889 – Annual Notice to Parents and Guardians Regarding Synthetic DrugsAB 889 requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to notify parents or guardians regarding the dangers associated with using unprescribed synthetic drugs, such as fentanyl, through updates to the annual notice. As a reminder, the annual ...

Four Bills Affecting Student Attendance Requirements

By:Ruth Mendyk, Alyssa Bivins, Ligia Nicolae -

January 2024Number 1In October 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed four new bills into law that amend existing sections of the Education Code to extend excused absences related to attending religious retreats (AB 1503) and funeral services of immediate family members (SB 350), extend the time to determine an interdistrict transfer appeal (SB 413), and grant homeless and foster youth priority access to intersession programs (AB 373).Assembly Bill 1503 – Excused Absences for Religious Retr...

Student Health Legislation Updates

By:Sarah Garcia, Aislinn Roberts -

January 2024Number 4In October 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law two bills related to student health. Assembly Bill (AB) 230 expands access to menstrual products, and AB 659 requires notification to parents and guardians regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Senate Bill (SB) 541, which would have required public high schools to make condoms available to students at no cost, was vetoed and will not take effect.AB 230: Menstrual ProductsUnder existing law, public schools with an...

Two New Laws Related to Student Discipline Promote Recess and Restorative Justice Practices

By:Edward Sklar, Jessica McLoughlin -

December 2023Number 45Earlier this year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law, both of which concern how school districts impose student discipline. Assembly Bill (AB) 1165 amends Education Code section 48900.5 to add provisions that encourage school staff to engage the victim and perpetrator of racist bullying, harassment, or intimidation, in a restorative justice practice that meets the needs of both students. Senate Bill (SB) 291, which will be enacted as Education Code section ...

SB 760 Ensures All-Gender Restrooms Are Accessible to Students

By:Harold Freiman, Jenna Belmonte -

December 2023Number 46On September 23, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 760, which requires each school district, county office of education, and charter school maintaining any combination of classes from first grade to twelfth grade, inclusive, to provide and maintain at least one all-gender restroom for student use at every school site, by no later than July 1, 2026.SB 760 requires identifying signage to be placed outside of all-gender restrooms, and for such restrooms to...

Expansion of Opportunities and Incentives to Students Serving as Pupil Members of Governing Boards

By:Ryan Tung, Janae Castellani -

November 2023Number 42Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed two bills into law that expand the opportunities and incentives for students to serve as pupil members of governing boards.First, Assembly Bill (AB) 417 expands who can be selected to serve as a pupil member of the county board of education (County BOE) in cases where a petition has not been submitted for the selection of a student. For context, there are two ways for a pupil member to be appointed to the position of a County BOE: (1...