Education Law & Policy Advocacy in New York
Public-School Protection | Advocacy | Transparency
Every child and every community deserves a lawful, equitable, and well‑governed public education system. Laura’s education law practice focuses on protecting students, parents, educators, and communities from unlawful school closures, budget cuts, policy violations, and failures of transparency that undermine public education across New York City and New York State.
School Closure & Restructuring Litigation
School closures and DOE restructuring decisions often occur with little transparency and in violation of statutory requirements. Laura represents parents and community groups seeking to challenge these unlawful decisions.
Laura assists clients in cases involving:
Unlawful school closures
Failure to comply with New York Education Law
Inadequate educational impact statements
Inadequate privacy impact assessments
Lack of required approvals before closure or co-location
Arbitrary or unsupported restructuring decisions
PS 25 Eubie Blake Academy (Bed-Stuy)
DOE sought to close PS 25 despite it being the second-highest performing elementary school in Brooklyn and the fourth-highest performing school citywide.
Laura secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) preventing the closure.
This victory protected a high-performing neighborhood school serving low-income families and students of color.
Education Budget & Funding Litigation
When school districts cut budgets illegally or without complying with required procedures, students suffer immediate and long-term harm. The Firm litigates unlawful budget actions and violations of the New York State Education Law.
Tucker v. City of New York
Challenged $469 million in unlawful education budget cuts.
The court ruled that the City had violated required budgeting procedures.
TRO granted by Justice Frank and affirmed by the Appellate Division.
Held that DOE cannot disregard state law governing adoption of education budgets.
Transparency, Governance, & Public Access
Families and educators have the right to transparent, open governance in education. The firm represents parents, PTA’s, and advocacy groups in cases involving:
School Leadership Team (SLT) access and public transparency
Open Meetings Law compliance
DOE failures to follow mandated policies and procedures
Parent oversight in school governance
Commissioner’s Appeals & Administrative Advocacy
Commissioner’s Appeals are a powerful tool for parents and advocates challenging unlawful district policies, improper decisions, and violations of state law. These appeals address issues such as:
Violations of New York Education Law
Improper implementation of DOE policies
Unlawful online instruction assignments without parental consent
Student placement and admission issues
Procedural and governance violations affecting families
Professional Leadership & Policy Engagement
Laura’s education policy advocacy is grounded in professional leadership, research, and collaboration.
Her experience includes:
Former Chair, NYC Bar Association Education & the Law Committee
Organizer and moderator of CLE programs addressing:
School desegregation
Special education issues
Broader state-level education policy
When to Seek Legal Action
Parents, educators, and community groups should consider legal intervention when:
The DOE violates mandated state procedures
Budget changes are adopted unlawfully
Transparency laws such as the Open Meetings Law are ignored
A school is targeted for closure or co-location
Online instruction is assigned without legal authority or consent
District decisions harm students or communities without proper impact analysis
Concerned about a school closure, budget decision, or DOE policy?
Request a Consultation Today.
If your school community is affected by unlawful closure attempts, budget cuts, or policy violations, The Law Office of Laura D. Barbieri, PLLC may be able to help protect your rights and ensure DOE compliance with state law.