Legal Question in Education Law in Iowa

My daughter was caught shoplifting she was given a ticket and had to attend a shoplifting class. We live in Iowa I did not think that was enought I made her do a evening with the juvenile Probation Officer coumminuty service group and she folded clothes and set up table for a salvation army weekend sale. She also has punishment here at home and cannot go shopping without Mom or Dad.

Here is my problem we have a juvenile liason officer at her school and he shared with others her issues and he told her coach and she has been suspended from the next three track meets (she throws shot put). Please understand I am not worried about her not going to a track meet that is the least of my problems. I am worried about her rights as a person.

I have read the Iowa code 280.25 for Information Sharing. Paragraph 5 reads.

Information shared by another party to the agreement with a school district or school pursuant to an interagency agreement shall not be used as a basis for a school disciplinary action against a student.

I understand every school has rules but if the information was shared do to the information sharing then they are using this information wrongly. The probation Officer told her that after the class it was over done nothing would happen because she was very scared. The liason Officer shared this information with people who have no good reason to have it and she was told she was suspended in front of 2 other children.

This is a child who has a IEP because she is dylexic she is in her freshmen year and she has a 3.5 grade point average.

Can they do this?


Asked on 5/02/12, 8:55 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Luedeman solo practitioner

It sounds like it's done to me. You haven't said whether the information shared-whatever it was-was part of her permanent record which is what chapter 280 covers-was a basis for a disciplinary action. In any event I do not see that there is a cause of action attached to this chapter of the code as it is an administrative setup.

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Answered on 5/09/12, 8:48 pm


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