Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel

Lara S. Kaufmann is Senior Counsel for Education and Employment at the National Women’s Law Center, where she focuses on the advancement of women and girls at school and in the workplace. Lara engages in litigation, advocacy, and public education, with a particular focus on improving educational outcomes for at-risk girls, including pregnant and parenting students. Lara co-authored the Center’s 2009 report, Listening to Latinas: Barriers to High School Graduation. Before joining the Center, Lara was a Staff Attorney with the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, and prior to that she was an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago. Lara also worked with the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery, and was law clerk to then-Chief Judge Marvin Aspen of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Lara is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Northwestern University School of Law.

Expert in: Pregnant & Parenting Students, School Reform & Dropout Prevention, Education & Title IX
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My Take

Join Our Webinar: Spotlight on Bullying & Harassment

Posted by Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel | Posted on: March 09, 2012 at 12:52 pm

Register Today: Webinar on Bullying and Harassment
Webinar on Bullying and Harassment
 

Worried about bullying and harassment in your school?

You are not alone. Join the National Women's Law Center for a free webinar to learn about how schools can and should respond to bullying and harassment.

Spotlight on Bullying & Harassment: The Law and One School's Response
Date: Thursday, March 22 at 3:30 p.m. Eastern
RSVP: The webinar is free, but participants need to register in advance.

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Tags: Sexual Harassment & Bullying, Education & Title IX | 2 comments

You Can Help LGBT Students - Call Today!

Posted by Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel | Posted on: January 25, 2012 at 12:59 pm

We have all seen tragic headlines like this: Student Commits Suicide over Homophobic Slurs. School Cancels Prom over Lesbian Couple. Parents of Gay Teen Say Bullying Caused Death.

Students who are or are perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) are especially at risk for bullying and harassment at school. Every day, students across the country endure the devastating impacts of this kind of bullying; sinking academic performance, health risks, and dropping out.

Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex, but did you know there is no federal law prohibiting LGBT discrimination in schools? You can help provide a safe learning environment for all students.

Make a call today and ask your Senators to co-sponsor an important piece of legislation, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, to prevent LGBT discrimination in K-12 public schools. It's easy. Dial (202) 224-3121 TODAY and ask to be connected to your Senators' offices.

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Tags: Education and Schools, LGBT, Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA), Take Action, School Reform & Dropout Prevention, Education & Title IX | Add new comment

Keep Harassment Out of Schools

Posted by Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel | Posted on: October 11, 2011 at 01:10 pm

What happens when students are not legally protected from bullying and harassment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity?

  • A school in Mississippi cancelled its annual senior prom rather than allow a lesbian student to bring her girlfriend.
  • An elementary school student asked a teacher to stop a schoolyard dodgeball game called "Smear the Queer;" the teacher responded by declaring the student be the "queer" for the day, upon which other students launched balls at him, reminiscent of a stoning.

But we have a chance to fix this loophole in the law and make sure our schools provide a safe learning environment for all kids.

Tell your Senators that the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) renewal bill must outlaw discrimination based on sexual orientation.

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Tags: School Reform & Dropout Prevention, Education & Title IX | Add new comment

Justice Delayed... Not Justice Denied (For a Change)!

Posted by Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel | Posted on: May 06, 2011 at 03:44 pm

Finally! Today, at long last, almost two full years after we filed an amicus brief on behalf of NWLC and 15 other organizations the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued its decision in Harris v.

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Tags: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, Employment | Add new comment

Pregnant and Parenting Students Arrested at Peaceful Protest

Posted by Lara S. Kaufmann, Senior Counsel | Posted on: April 28, 2011 at 01:11 pm

It seems like everyone has been talking about the Catherine Ferguson Academy in Detroit this week.

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Tags: Pregnant & Parenting Students, Education & Title IX | 2 comments