Carol R. Ashley, Principal
Email: cashley@futtermanhoward.com
PRACTICE FOCUS
Education equity
Employment discrimination
School law
Traditional civil rights
BAR ADMISSIONS
Illinois
Wisconsin
PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
Carol Ashley heads the firm's school law section. Specializing in equity in education, Carol partners with proactive school districts and community organizations to rectify civil rights violations. From her work with school districts in Rockford, Champaign, and Freeport, Illinois, she has developed a unique expertise in school policy management, programming and legal issues related to:
- Community partnerships
- English language learners curriculum and program design
- Gifted and talented identification processes
- Parent engagement
- School curriculum and instruction
- School discipline and climate
- Special education practices
- Staffing and hiring practices
- Student assignment
Currently, Carol is involved in a groundbreaking lawsuit in the largest school district in Illinois outside of Chicago that addresses closure of schools in minority neighborhoods and proper provision of English Language Learner services. She also has experience in litigating and settling individual and class action employment cases involving public school districts and other employers.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Clinical Supervisor, Loyola University School of Law, Child Law and Education Institute
ARTICLES & SPEECHES
Panelist, Ending of the Chicago Desegregation Court-Ordered Decree, WTTW-TV Chicago Tonight Broadcast
Panelist, School Equity Issues, DePaul University
Panelist, Education Equity Issues in Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Historical Society
Panelist, Diversity Issues, Francis Parker School
EDUCATION
Harris Graduate School of Public Policy Studies at the University of Chicago (1994-1996)
J. D., University of Wisconsin Law School (1994)
B. A., Northwestern University (1991)
VIDEOS