2026 Student Rights Conference — FAQ & Registration
2026 Student Rights Conference FAQ & Registration
When + Where is the Student Rights Conference?
The Student Rights Conference will be held virtually on Thursday and Friday, July 16-17, 2026.
What Topics are Covered During the Student Rights Conference?
Days 1 and 2 will combine both general student/parent rights and special education rights. Each day will end with a panel discussion and Q&A. A complete schedule for both days is available below.
Who Would Benefit from Attending the Student Rights Conference?
The conference will benefit students, parents/guardians of school-age children, k12 educators and attorneys in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Conference sessions are noted for Beginner, Medium, and Advanced experience levels. The conference is pending approval in Ohio and Pennsylvania for a total of 11.5 CLE hours (5.75 hours each day). The agenda and speakers’ bios are available for submission for educator CEU credit as well.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend?
General Registration: The cost to attend the Student Rights Conference is $75 per day for early-bird registration (prior to July 1, 2026) or $100 per day starting on July 1, 2026. All registration ends on July 15, 2026 (the day before the conference).
Legal Aid and Non-Profit Partners Registration: A discounted rate is available for legal aid attorneys, juvenile public defenders and for employees of our non-profit partners (MiPAAC, DRM, DRO, OCECD). The cost to attend the Student Rights Conference is $50 per day for these individuals for registration at any time prior to July 15, 2026 (no early-bird registration).
We also have a limited number of financial need-based scholarships covering the full cost of tuition, which are available to students of any age or anyone else in need and interested in attending. Click here to complete a scholarship application.
Who is Organizing the Conference?
The conference is organized by Abdnour Weiker, LLP, a student-rights focused law firm operating in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, with support from the Michigan Parent Advocate and Attorney Coalition (MiPAAC). Several scheduled sessions will be led by the education attorneys and advocates from Abdnour Weiker, LLP.
How Do I Sign Up?
To register for one or both days of the conference, please CLICK THE REGISTRATION BUTTON AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.
Questions?
For any other inquiries, please email Renee Stromski, Esq. at renee@education-rights.com.
FULL CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Day 1 — Thursday, July 16th, 2026
8:00am – 9:00am Check-In/Coffee
9:00am – 9:10am Welcome - Overview of Student Rights, with Mark Weiker, Esq.
9:10am – 10:00am Session 1 - Special Education Case Law Updates, w/ Jacquelyn Kmetz, Esq.
Join Attorney Jacquelyn Kmetz as she walks you through key special education cases from the 2025-2026 school year and their impact on the ever-changing special education landscape. Attorney Kmetz will start with cases within the sixth circuit, which have the most impact on your student's rights, before turning to cases in other circuits. Attorney Kmetz will break down the issues, what the judge decided, and why this case matters to you as you continue advocating for your students.
10:00am – 10:10am Break
10:10am – 11:00am Session 2 - Constitutional Rights for Students Within the Schoolhouse Gate, w/ Nicole Cote, Esq.
As outlined in the landmark case of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the Supreme Court declared, "It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." 393 U.S. 503 (1969) at 506. But what do these rights really look like inside schools? If students wanted to engage in a protest, what limitations would be there? This presentation will provide a brief overview of the freedom of speech rights and limitations for students within schools and evaluate these impacts on student protests.
11:00am – 11:10am Break
11:10am – 12:00pm Session 3 - From Policy to Practice: Title IX Hearings and Appeals, w/ Jessica Moore, Esq. (Handout)
This presentation will cover the rules and regulations governing Title IX hearings and appeals. Whether you are a student or an attorney advising a student through the Title IX process, this presentation will provide you with helpful tips and strategies in preparing for your upcoming Title IX hearing.
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm – 1:50pm Session 4 - Challenging School Board Immunity in the Age of Censorship, w/ Sara Dagher, Esq.(Advanced)
This presentation provides a strategic roadmap for leveraging 42 U.S.C. § 1983 to overcome sovereign immunity defenses in federal court. We will examine the evolving standards for holding school districts accountable when they infringe on fundamental constitutional liberties, like free expression, privacy, and the guarantees of due process and equal protection. Attendees will explore the litigation strategies necessary to successfully advocate for civil rights and institutional accountability in the modern educational environment.
1:50pm – 2:00pm Break
2:00pm – 2:50pm Session 5 - Student Discipline: What to Do When Your Child Has a Disciplinary Hearing, w/ Megan Mitchell, Esq. (Intermediate)
In this session, Attorney Megan Mitchell will dive into timelines, requirements, and factors to be considered when your child is involved in a disciplinary hearing at school. Attendees can expect to learn about the school's discretionary suspension rights, when a student's right to due process requires a hearing, and what to expect at a disciplinary hearing, as well as how best to advocate for their student in this process.
2:50pm – 3:00pm Break
3:00pm – 3:50pm Session 6 - Speak Up: Giving Students a Voice in Their Education, w/ Renee Stromski, Esq.
IEP meetings work best when students take part in them. This session will show ways to help students share their goals, talk about what helps them learn, and build skills to speak up for what they need. Attendees will also learn ways to get student input before or during the meeting.
3:50pm – 4:00pm Break
4:00pm – 4:50pm Ask the Experts: Live Q&A on Student Rights & Advocacy
Join a panel of experienced attorneys and advocates to discuss key takeaways from the day’s sessions. Attendees can ask questions about the presentations or submit questions in advance when registering.
4:50pm – 5:00pm Final Remarks, w/ Mark Weiker, Esq., Liz Abdnour, Esq. and Heather Eckner
Day 2 — Friday, July 17th, 2026
8:00am – 9:00am Check-In/Coffee
9:00am – 9:10am Welcome - Overview of Student Rights, with Mark Weiker, Esq.
9:10am – 10:00am Session 1 - Student Rights in 2026: Case Law Update, w/Liz Abdnour, Esq.
This session provides an overview of recent legal updates related to general education law in K-12 and higher education. Gain insight into emerging trends, compliance obligations, and advocacy strategies.
10:00am – 10:10am Break
10:10am – 11:00am Session 2 - People Power: Collective Advocacy That Drives Systems Change, w/ Heather Eckner
Individual advocacy can secure necessary services, while collective advocacy transforms systems. This session explores how families, advocates, and organizations can align around shared goals, build strategic coalitions, and move from individual concerns to coordinated action that influences policy, practice, and funding. Drawing on real-world examples, participants will learn practical approaches to turning engagement into sustained impact so student rights are not only protected, but strengthened at scale.
11:00am – 11:10am Break
11:10am – 12:00pm Session 3 - Self-Advocacy and Expectations: Planning Post-High School for Students with Unique Needs, w/ Ruth Pack-Adler, Esq.
Success at a college or university takes a combination of effective communication, partnership with administration and professors, and an understanding of the school’s policies. For students with disabilities exploring post high school opportunities, it is critical to research and verify that a selected program will suit the student's unique educational needs. This session will focus on disability rights, educational access and tips for resolving issues that may arise after K-12 education. Utilizing relevant case study examples, we will explore the role of self-advocacy, reasonable accommodations and setting realistic expectations.
12:00pm – 1:00pm Lunch Break
1:00pm – 1:50pm Session 4 - Beyond the Scoreboard: Legal Issues in High School Sports, w/ Kathleen Mahoney, Esq.
High school athletics should be a place for opportunity—not harm or exclusion. This presentation examines the legal protections afforded to student-athletes, including rights related to bullying and retaliation by coaches, hazing by teammates, equitable access under Title IX, transgender participation policies, freedom from sexual harassment, and safety from preventable injuries. Attendees will gain practical tools to safeguard student rights while maintaining compliant athletic programs.
1:50pm – 2:00pm Break
2:00pm – 2:50pm Session 5 - Interpreting ETR/MET/ER Results, w/ Danielle Randolph, M.Ed., Ed.S.
Evaluation reports can be lengthy and difficult to understand. This presentation will break down the key sections of a school-based evaluation for special education services and explain what the results mean in clear, practical terms. Participants will learn how to identify important findings, understand eligibility decisions, and use the information to support appropriate educational programming for students. The session will focus on helping professionals and parents feel more confident reading and discussing evaluation reports.
2:50pm – 3:00pm Break
3:00pm – 3:50pm Session 6 - How to Get the School's Attention, w/ Mark Weiker, Esq. (Handout)
This session will address common mistakes parents, advocates and attorneys make when communicating with a school and how to fix them. Attendees will review useful examples and learn rules of thumb that can be applied to all school communications. The goal in this workshop will be to learn how to get -- and keep -- the school's attention.
3:50pm – 4:00pm Break
4:00pm – 4:50pm Ask the Experts: Live Q&A on Student Rights & Advocacy
Join a panel of experienced attorneys and advocates to discuss key takeaways from the day’s sessions. Attendees can ask questions about the presentations or submit questions in advance when registering.
4:50pm – 5:00pm Final Remarks, w/ Mark Weiker, Esq., Liz Abdnour, Esq. and Heather Eckner
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2026 STUDENT RIGHTS CONFERENCE: