Mission
The Right to Education Project (REP) is the statewide education justice project of Legal Aid of North Carolina that fights for students in the public education system to get access to the quality education they have a right to, and to end the school to prison pipeline.
How We Work
REP works through three main pathways to achieve greater education justice for students in North Carolina public schools.
Direct Advocacy
One-on-one advice, support, and/or legal representation for students and parents
Community Education
Presentations, trainings, and publications on students’ and parents’ rights related to education and public school
Community Lawyering
Advocacy in support of and in partnership with community groups & youth justice advocates to build parent and student power
Issue Areas
REP works to protect North Carolina public school students, including those in charter schools, who are experiencing the following forms of school push out:
Enrollment & Access
Denials of educational access, including situations where students are denied enrollment, and/or timely, appropriate access to a sound basic education. This can include a school environment that prevents a student from being able to learn.
Suspension, Expulsion, & Alternative School Placements
Direct school push-out by exclusionary discipline, including situations where students face unlawful and/or excessive out-of-school suspension, expulsion, or punitive placement in an alternative school or program.
Special Education & Disability-related Needs
Indirect school push-out as a result of a school’s failure to address a student’s disability-related needs, including situations where a student with a disability isn’t being given needed services and/or is excluded from the school environment or their non-disabled peers.
Discrimination & Harassment
Indirect school push-out as a result of a school’s maintenance of a hostile environment, including situations where a school creates and/or fails to take steps to address a discriminatory hostile environment.
I Need Help With
Attendance & Records
I'm Looking for Resources For
Parents & Youth
Other Resources
Staff
Interim Managing Attorney
Carlton Powell
Staff Social Worker
Katie Haberman
Staff Attorneys
Crystal Ingram
Hetali Lodaya (EJW Fellow)
Paralegal
Tyler Fleming
Law Associate
Rebecca Cathcart
Contact
If you are seeking LEGAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR STUDENT, contact the Legal Aid NC Helpline:
Legal Aid NC Helpline
If you wish to contact Legal Aid NC for disaster-related legal issues, call our Helpline:
Toll-Free: 1 (866) 219-LANC (5262)
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM, Monday – Friday
For all other calls, our helpline is open:
8:30 AM – 1:30 PM, Monday – Friday
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM, Monday & Thursday
Apply for free help with civil (non-criminal) legal issues.
If you are looking for COMMUNITY EDUCATION, fill out the below form to learn more about trainings we can offer groups, and to request tabling, training, or office hours with our team.
The Right to Education Project's Newsletter
Resources