Welcome!

For more than ten years, Atlantic Legal has represented charter schools and their advocates when charters have been opposed by bureaucrats, teachers' unions, school districts and others who benefit from the conventional public education monopoly.

Mission Statement

Atlantic Legal believes that charter schools offer a necessary and viable alternative for parents and children locked into failing public schools.  Recognizing that entrenched special-interest groups are opposed to the charter schools concept, Atlantic Legal has established a program devoted to the protection and strengthening of charter schools.

What We Do

• Leveling the Playing Field -- Atlantic Legal is publishing a series of state-focused legal guides, written by nationally known labor law attorneys, to educate charter school leaders about what they must know regarding unionization efforts.
  
             
     
  Click above for Atlantic Legal's Guides for Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and California.
  
  
• Counseling -- Atlantic Legal has published “Employment Law Issues for Charter School Administrators,” prepared by the national law firm Jackson Lewis LLP. While focused on four Western States, this guide will be valuable to charter administrators located in other states. Click here to download.
  
  
• Litigation -- Atlantic Legal represents charter schools and charter school advocates in court, often as "friends of the court," focusing on broad policy concerns that are not being developed adequately by plaintiffs and defendants.  Atlantic Legal offers its representation at no charge.
  
  
  • State of New York Public Employment Relations Board -- The Foundation has filed an amicus brief in two New York Public Employment Relations Board (“PERB”) cases arguing that PERB could not adjudicate the cases because it lacked jurisdiction. To read the brief, click Click here. In February, PERB determined that it had jurisdiction and that there was no federal preemption.
    
    
• Cordray v. International Preparatory -- Atlantic Legal, along with Imagine Charter Schools and the Center for Education Reform, filed an amicus brief in the Ohio Supreme Court opposing the Attorney General's contention that "community" school officials are subject to strict personal liability for a school's failure to repay money received in error by the school. Several education professional associations have filed briefs supporting the Attorney General's position. To read the brief, click Click here. The Ohio Supreme Court held that an officer of a community school is a public official and may be held strictly liable for the loss of public funds; however, it must be shown that the public official received or collected public money under color of office.
  
  
• Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association V. Brentwood Academy -- Click here to read Atlantic Legal's arguments opposing limitations on the ability of schools to communicate with parents and students about their programs.
  
  
• Bush v. Holmes -- Click here to read Atlantic Legal's brief in the case of Bush v. Holmes, where Atlantic Legal on behalf of Excellent Education for Everyone argued that research consistently supports the conclusion that vouchers provide children - especially minority children - with better education. Further, Atlantic Legal asserted that, far from harming public schools, Opportunity Scholarships have actually improved the performance of the worst public schools, even where all other efforts to do so have demonstrably failed. The brief asserts that vouchers actually improve racial integration and tolerance, because they introduce more racial mixing, and evidence has shown that students who attend private schools are more tolerant of groups they dislike than are public school students.
  
  
• Pro Bono Counsel -- Atlantic Legal gives legal advice to charter school leaders and links charter schools with able private sector lawyers willing to provide representation at reduced rates or at no charge.  Atlantic Legal collaborates with other public-interest attorneys who seek to expand school choice options on behalf of their clients.
  
  
• Education -- The Foundation's report dealing with charter renewal practices in New York has been released by the New York Charter Schools Association. Peter Murphy, Policy Director of the Association, said: "Atlantic Legal 's report is a much needed resource that includes recommendations that will be welcomed by school leaders and trustees. We intend to build on the report's common-sense changes that would make renewal procedures more efficient and less costly." To read the report click here . Atlantic Legal's recommendations for improvements begin on page 13.
  
  Atlantic Legal organizes conferences and workshops bringing national charter school leaders and charter advocates together to explore solutions to common problems.  Using its network of charter school leaders, Atlantic Legal will also publish occasional papers discussing national issues impacting charters.
  
  
  • Website -- Atlantic Legal's dedicated website, www.defendcharterschools.org, will serve to gather the best research and current developments affecting charters.
  
  
  

  Download a copy of our brochure. Order the legal guide copy online.