Education

The legal landscape for public and private schools in California is constantly evolving. Your goal is to help your students learn and grow. Let us handle the full range of legal matters necessary to allow you to achieve that noble goal.

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Summary

Growing out of extensive work for traditional public schools and nonprofits, including school districts and universities, we have developed a deep understanding of charter schools, private schools, and other innovations in education. Procopio has been at the forefront of advising charter schools since the inception of the Charter Schools Act and through numerous changes in education law and climate.

If you view charter or private schools as opportunities to improve public education, we are aligned with you. We want to help you make a positive difference. Our attorneys have a genuine passion for education. We actively participate in charter school legal advocacy organizations, both at the state and national levels, and we stay ahead of the curve by constantly monitoring the numerous policy areas that impact charter school legislation. We keep our clients on top of emerging trends and work to positively influence policy and regulatory matters, in addition to supporting schools across every aspect of their day-to-day operations.

Learn more about our services below as well as valuable resources, including our annual publications:

California Charter School Laws and Regulations: A Compilation of Selected Provisions, November 2024 edition.
The Ralph M. Brown Act and Related Statutes, January 2025 edition.

Governance
Student Issues
Petitions, Renewals and Appeals
Facilities Development and Public Financing
Labor and Employment
Entity Formation and Tax Exemption
Litigation
Legislative Advocacy
Funding and Regulatory Issues
Special Education

“The Ralph M. Brown Act and Related Statutes,” January 2025 edition.
“California Charter School Laws and Regulations: A Compilation of Selected Provisions,” November 2024 edition.
“Charter School Bonds Under Scrutiny,” article by Chip Eady, November 25, 2024.
“Is Your School Ready for the New Recess Rules?” article by Greta Proctor and Julia Choi, July 8, 2024.
“New Title IX Regulations: What’s Changing for California TK-12 Schools?” article by Greta Proctor and Merrick Wadsworth, April 25, 2024.
“Section 504,” by David Graham, webinar, May 8, 2024.
“Charter Teacher Credentialing Part II,” by Greta Proctor, webinar, April 17, 2024.
“Charting Compliance: Navigating California Wage and Hour Laws for Charter Schools,” by Wendy Tucker, CCSAA Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 20, 2024.
“Charter Teacher Credentialing,” by Greta Proctor, CCSA Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 20, 2024.
“Best Board Meeting Ever,” by Greta Proctor, CCSA Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 20, 2024.
“What Was I Supposed to File? Avoiding Costly Compliance Slip-Ups,” by Kevin Davis, CCSA Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 19, 2024.
“Essential Charter School Policies,” by Greta Proctor and Merrick Wadsworth, CCSA Conference, Long Beach, CA, March 19, 2024.
“Brown Act Training for 2024,” by Kevin Davis, webinar, February 28, 2024.
“How to Social Media: A Guide for Public Agencies and Schools,” by Adriana Ochoa, webinar, February 21, 2024.
“Charter School Credentialing,” by Greta Proctor, webinar, February 14, 2024.
“Completing Your Form 700: An Annual Workshop for Code Filers,” by Merrick Wadsworth, webinar, February 6, 2024.
“Complimentary Title IX Training for Charters,” by Greta Proctor and Merrick Wadsworth, webinar, January 31, 2024.
“New Year, New Laws: What’s New for Charter Schools in 2024,” by Greta Proctor, webinar, January 10, 2024.
“Religion in Public Schools and Changes Affecting Charter Schools,” by Greta Proctor and Kevin Davis, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 10, 2023.
“Wage and Hour Lessons from the Trenches: How to Avoid Expensive Wage Claims,” Wendy Tucker, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 10, 2023.
“Why Risk Management Matters: Claims, Cases, and Costs,” by Wendy Tucker, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 9, 2023.
“Charter Teacher Credentialing: 2023-24 Edition,” by Greta Proctor, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 9, 2023.
“Gompers Decertification: Lessons to Help Union-Proof Your School,” by Wendy Tucker, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 9, 2023.
“Governance Summit: How to Prepare for Authorizer Oversight/Overreach,” by Greta Proctor, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 8, 2023.
“Title IX Training & Handling Tough Complaints: Strategies for Meeting Legal Requirements while Defusing Escalating Situations,” by Greta Proctor and Merrick Wadsworth, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 8, 2023.
“Charter School Accountability Summit: What Administrators Need to Know about LCAPs, the Dashboard, and Charter Renewal,” by Greta Proctor, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 8, 2023.
“Navigating Employee Leaves and Accommodations in a Post-COVID World,” by Wendy Tucker, 2023 CSDC Conference, Anaheim, CA, November 8, 2023.
“Wage and Hour Rules Every Charter School Needs to Know!” by Wendy Tucker, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 16, 2023.
“Best Board Meeting Ever: 2023,” by Greta Proctor and Kevin Davis, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 15, 2023.
“What Was I Supposed to File? Avoiding Costly Compliance Slip-Ups,” by Kevin Davis, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 15, 2023.
“Ask a Charter School Lawyer,” by Greta Proctor and Wendy Tucker, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 15, 2023.
“Essential Charter School Policies: 2023 Edition,” by Greta Proctor and Merrick Wadsworth, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 14, 2023.
“Your Employee Has a Medical Issue: What Do You Do Now?” by Wendy Tucker, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 14, 2023.
“Charter School Credentialing in California,” by Greta Proctor, 2023 CCSA Conference, Sacramento, CA, March 14, 2023.
“Sharing Resources Across Charter Schools: Best Practices,” by Greta Proctor and Wendy Tucker, 2022 CCSA Conference, March 17, 2022.
“Employee Accommodations and Leaves in the New Pandemic World,” by Wendy Tucker, 2022 CCSA Conference, March 17, 2022.
“Case Studies in Charter Teaching Credentialing,” by Greta Proctor, 2022 CCSA Conference, March 17, 2022.
“Essential Charter School Policies – Updated for 2022,” by Greta Proctor & Merrick Wadsworth,” 2022 CCSA Conference, March 16, 2022.
“Student Discipline and Expulsions: Navigating a Complicated Landscape,” by Kevin Davis, 2022 CCSA Conference, March 16, 2022.
“Material Revisions, MOUs, and Authorizer Policies: Challenges for Growth,” by Greta Proctor & Merrick Wadsworth, March 16, 2022.
“Best Board Meeting Ever: 2022 Edition,” Greta Proctor & Merrick Wadsworth with Julie Umansky & Andrew Crowe, 2022 CCSA Conference, March 15, 2022.
“Conversations with Counsel: Compensation and Employee Perks: Keep Your School in Compliance and Your Employees Happy and Motivated,” by Greta Proctor and Wendy Tucker, February 15, 2022.
“Conversations with Counsel: Leaves and Accommodations in the Era of COVID-19,” by Wendy Tucker, February 8, 2022.
“Conversations With Counsel: Keep Your Employers at Work: Latest Updates,” by Greta Proctor and Wendy Tucker, February 1, 2022.
“Charter Teacher Credentials 101,” by Greta Proctor, CDSC 2021 Conference, December 6, 2021.
“Employee Medical Leaves and Accommodations in the Era of COVID-19,” by Wendy Tucker, CDSC 2021 Conference, December 6, 2021.
“Employee Compensation: Retain Quality Employees and Avoid Liability,” by Wendy Tucker, CDSC 2021 Conference, December 6, 2021.
“Supporting Anti-Racist Work Environments at Charter Schools and Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession,” by Adriana Ochoa, CCSA “Lunching with Lawyers” Virtual Seminar, November 17, 2021.
“Prop 39 Workshop,” by Kevin Davis, October 20, 2021.
“Charter Schools: Proposed Legislation and Political Campaigns,” by Kevin Davis, May 18, 2021.
“New COVID-19 Leave Laws – What’s A Charter School To Do?” by Wendy Tucker, April 13, 2021.
“Creating Anti-Racist Workplaces While Avoiding Employment Liability,” by Adriana Ochoa of Procopio, and Laura McGowan-Robinson of Diversity in Leadership Institute, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 19, 2021.
“Essential Charter School Policies,” by Greta Proctor & Merrick Wadsworth, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 18, 2021.
“Best Board Meeting Ever: 2021 Virtual Edition,” by Greta Proctor, Merrick Wadsworth, and Kevin Davis of Procopio, Julie Umansky of CCSA, and Andrew Crowe of Scholarship Prep, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 18, 2021.
“Conflicts of Interest: Beyond the Basics,” by Adriana Ochoa & Merrick Wadsworth, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 18, 2021.
“Be Ready For Financial Reviews, Audits, and Investigations: 2021 Edition,” by Greta Proctor of Procopio, Kurt Feddersen of Feddersen & Company, and Tom Nichols of CSMC, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 17, 2021.
“A Conversation About LAUSD Chartering: Substance and Process,” by Greta Proctor of Procopio, Cassy Horton of CCSA, and Tammy Stanton of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 16, 2021.
“Top 10 Best Practices in Wage and Hour to Limit Your School’s Liability,” by Wendy Tucker, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 16, 2021.
“Rising to the Challenge: Serving Pupils with Disabilities During a Disaster,” by Greta Proctor of Procopio and Gina Plate of CCSA, CCSA 2021 Virtual Conference, March 15, 2021.
“Form 700 Workshop and Q&A,” by Merrick Wadsworth, February 2, 2021.