Overview

Monica D. Batanero is Senior Counsel in Lozano Smith's Los Angeles office and chair of the firm's Title IX Practice Area. Ms. Batanero advises educational institutions on student, special education and personnel issues.

Experience

Ms. Batanero provides legal counsel to community college districts and K-12 school districts on day-to-day issues involving Title IX compliance, sexual harassment, discrimination/harassment, Section 504, IDEA, governance, Public Records Act, and student discipline. She regularly conducts workplace and school investigations involving alleged misconduct in violation of board policy and/or law, including Title IX, sexual harassment, professional standards, and code of student conduct.

Ms. Batanero has represented school districts in all phases of special education matters, including Individualized Education Plan meetings, resolution meetings, mediations, and due process hearings conducted by the Office of Administrative Hearings.

She also frequently develops and provides trainings to clients on Title IX, Section 504, IDEA, workplace and school investigations, sexual harassment prevention, student discipline, and first amendment issues.

Education

Ms. Batanero earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco, School of Law. She earned both an M.S. and B.S. in Gerontology from the University of Southern California.

Department of Education Releases Proposed Title IX Rule for Transgender Athletes

By: Roxana Khan, Monica Batanero, Emma Sol- 06/08/2023

U.S. Department of Education Releases Guidance on Disciplining Students with Disabilities

By: Mark Waterman, Monica Batanero, Stephanie Holtz- 08/17/2022