Florida Education Law: K-12 and Higher Education

Education Law Experience

Mr. Woodring has significant experience at the highest levels of education law. He was the General Counsel of the Florida Department of Education for almost five years and was also the first General Counsel of the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees all the state universities. He is a past Chair of the Education Law Committee of The Florida Bar and also serves on the advisory committee for the Alliance of Public Charter School Attorneys. He has advised on education law for over 25 years.

Counsel to Schools, Colleges, and Universities

We serve as outside counsel for a number of charter schools and charter management organizations, and we represent private schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions in the kinds of matters listed below. For institutions we also advise on board governance, policies and handbooks, internal investigations, and training. For ongoing counsel, see also our General Counsel Services and Florida Charter School Law pages.

Education Law Cases We Handle

The Woodring Law Firm handles cases involving K-12 education and higher education, including Florida school districts, state and community colleges (the Florida College System), the state universities, private colleges and universities, private schools, and charter schools. We represent schools, colleges, universities, and other private or governmental entities, as well as parents and students, depending on the nature of the case. We can represent parties before the U.S. Department of Education, local school boards, the State Board of Education, university boards of trustees, the Board of Governors, the Commission for Independent Education, and the Education Practices Commission, among others.

Examples of the types of cases that we may handle within the educational context are:

• Charter school applications and appeals, funding disputes and compliance issues
• Starting and opening private schools at the K-12 level
• Working with applications for higher education entities when they’re applying and being approved by the Commission for Independent Education
• All the legal issues and questions that arise when operating public charter schools or private K-12 schools and institutions of higher education
• Contract and procurement cases and bid protests involving school districts and universities
• Public records and Government in the Sunshine matters involving governmental entities
• Textbook adoption appeals
• Testing, funding, or admission matters
• Employment, collective bargaining, and labor law matters
• Discrimination and desegregation cases
• Discipline cases involving students, teachers, and administrators, including student suspension and expulsion
• Professional license cases involving teachers and administrators
• Cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including individual education plans (IEPs) and exceptional student education (ESE)
• Cases under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) matters
• Title IX matters
• Student records and privacy matters under FERPA and section 1002.22, Florida Statutes
• All constitutional matters involving public and private education, including First Amendment challenges

School Choice and Charter Schools

For more information about school choice, including charter schools and scholarships such as the Family Empowerment Scholarship, which now includes the former McKay Scholarship, and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, see the School Choice Law page and the Florida Charter School Law page.

Talk to Us About an Education Matter

If you are a school, college, or university administrator, an educational vendor (or potential vendor), an instructor or teacher, or a parent or student, and have a case or legal concerns about an educational matter, we would like to discuss your potential case with you, wherever in Florida you are located. Keep in mind that many deadlines in the educational context are short; if you are in doubt about a matter, please don’t delay in seeking advice. For example, a charter school applicant has 30 calendar days to appeal the denial of its application to the State Board of Education, and a request for an administrative hearing generally must be filed within 21 days of receiving written notice of an agency’s decision. Call 850-567-8445, email Info@woodringlawfirm.com, or use the contact form on this page.

Good Education Policy

We are always particularly interested in helping further good education policy. If you think you have a way to further it and would like our help, please let us know. See more on Good Education Policy.

Common Questions About Florida Education Law

Does Woodring Law Firm handle education law matters throughout Florida?

Yes. We handle education law matters throughout Florida, in K-12 and higher education.

Who does the firm represent in education matters?

Schools, colleges, universities, and other private or governmental entities, including charter schools and charter management organizations, as well as educational vendors, instructors and teachers, and parents and students, depending on the nature of the case.

Does the firm work with charter schools?

Yes. We handle charter school applications and appeals and also serve as outside counsel for a number of charter schools and charter management organizations. See our Florida Charter School Law page for more.

What is Mr. Woodring’s experience in education law?

He was the General Counsel of the Florida Department of Education for almost five years and the first General Counsel of the Florida Board of Governors, he is a past Chair of the Education Law Committee of The Florida Bar, and he has advised on education law for over 25 years.

Does the firm handle teacher discipline and certification cases?

Yes. We handle discipline cases involving students, teachers, or school administrators, and professional license cases involving teachers and administrators, including matters before the Education Practices Commission.

Does the firm handle special education cases?

Yes. We handle cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.