Advocacy Resources for Children

The Institute serves the educational needs of children through direct representation and policy initiatives, including:

• Support for children in the special education process
• Support for children faced with school discipline, suspension and expulsion
• Support for children denied educational services because of race or gender
• Support for children whose education is disrupted due to exposure to the juvenile justice system or placement in foster care
• Support for efforts to make preschool available to all children
• Support for equitable funding of educational opportunities

Through its Education Law Practicum, the Institute empowers law students to work on these matters in conjunction with its partners and affiliates including:

• Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc.
• The Child and Family Law Center
• Equip for Equality
• Franczek Radelet P.C.
• Futterman & Howard
• Legal Assistance Foundation
• Matt Cohen & Associates

The Education Law Practicum is directed by Hillary Coustan, an adjunct faculty member. Professor Coustan received her J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she was a Public Interest Fellow and worked in the Youth and Education Law Clinic. Prior to law school, she worked as a program coordinator for a national scholarship program and as a policy associate for a charter school organization. After law school, Hillary clerked for the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She has published articles regarding access to educational resources, has advocated on behalf of the educational rights of children, and teaches disability law at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Northwestern University School of Law.