To provide legal advice and representation in partnership with New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) to children and youth who are suspended, expelled, pushed to drop out of school or transfer to adult education, or referred to Juvenile Court for disciplinary issues by Waterbury or Meriden schools, the communities with the highest school-based arrests. CLS and NHLAA attorneys help youth obtain the educational services and accommodations to which they are entitled and, wherever possible, help to overturn suspensions and expulsions. They also represent those youth involved with Juvenile Court on disciplinary matters related to their school issues and advocate statewide reform of zero tolerance policies and disparate treatment of students of color and youth with disabilities. CLS and NHLAA provide trainings for court, school, community and police personnel, as well as parents, on students’ rights and what schools are required to provide them. They use their experiences to advocate reform of school disciplinary policies locally, as well as statewide.
