David Lapp
PHILADELPHIA
Summary
David Lapp is a licensed attorney and expert in education law and policy, currently serving as Director of Policy Research at Research for Action, where he oversees a range of projects at the nexus of K-12 education policy and research. Previously, David served as a staff attorney at the Education Law Center–PA, where he litigated and conducted research on a wide variety of complex education law and civil rights legal issues. David taught education law at UPenn’s GSE and served as an advisor to a pro bono collaborative between law students at Temple, UPenn, and Drexel. David received his JD from Temple Law, which awarded him the Conwell Fellowship. Prior to law school, David taught social studies in two Philadelphia charter schools. David is currently seeking new opportunities to use his skills in merging research with legal and policy analysis to help policymakers and the public identify concrete and commonsense reforms to improve access to educational opportunities.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Policy Research
Research for Action
Philadelphia
03.2016 - Current
- Supervise policy research staff and chart the trajectory of preK-12 education policy research, including designing research studies, analyzing data, producing accessible public reports, and disseminating and interpreting findings to a wide audience.
- Provide directorial oversight of RFA’s Pennsylvania Clearinghouse for Education Research and Allegheny County Education Research projects, including development of RFA’s Educational Opportunity Dashboard and the PA School Data Project.
- Oversee legislative and policy analysis, conduct descriptive data analysis, supervise policy research staff and coordinate with quantitative and qualitative research departments.
- Draft, edit, publish, and disseminate policy research products, including reports, briefs, presentations, interactive dashboards, videos and other research products.
- Collaborate with external partners and stakeholders, including policymakers, advocates, media, and other researchers.
- Provide public testimony, presentations, blogs, and media commentary to communicate research findings to policymakers, practitioners, advocates, families and community members.
- Oversee policy research business development, including identifying potential funding opportunities, designing projects, building project budgets, and drafting proposals.
Staff Attorney
Education Law Center–PA
Philadelphia
01.2009 - 03.2016
- Managed an annual caseload of more than 150 clients and represented students, families, and community groups on a wide variety of complex education law and civil rights legal issues including school finance, race and disability discrimination, school discipline, special education, student enrollment, the Pennsylvania charter school law, and the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know and Sunshine Acts.
- Litigated in state and federal courts and via the administrative procedures of the PA Department of Education and the Federal Departments of Justice and Education.
- Conducted research and analysis of legislation and regulations on various issues pending before local, state, or federal governmental agencies.
- Led data analysis to bolster litigation and policy advocacy, drafted legislative testimony and op-eds, and served as a primary contact to policymakers and media.
- Authored and edited publications and fact sheets on School Law in Pennsylvania.
- Provided training and assistance to the Student Discipline Advocacy Service (SDAS), an innovative law student collaborative advocating for students in Philadelphia.
- Taught Continuing Legal Education courses on school discipline and Pennsylvania charter school law.
- Trained and supervised fellows, pro bono attorneys, and law student interns.
Adjunct Instructor
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Philadelphia
08.2012 - 05.2013
- Taught graduate courses in Education Law for students in GSE’s Teach for America cohort.
- Advised 19 graduate students through research and writing of their master’s-level theses.
High School Social Studies Teacher
Freire Charter School
Philadelphia
08.2003 - 06.2008
- Taught courses in U.S. History, World History, U.S. Government, Economics, and Law.
- Coached mock trial team and piloted a teen court program.
High School and Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Math Civics Sciences Charter School
Philadelphia
07.1999 - 06.2003
- Served as Lead Teacher, supervising the 11th grade teaching staff.
- Taught American History, Reading and World History.
- Assisted coaching varsity and junior varsity basketball.
GED and Adult Basic Education Teacher
Lutheran Settlement House
Philadelphia
07.1998 - 07.1999
- Taught GED and Adult Basic Education classes in Philadelphia public libraries.
- Co-coordinated a Family Literacy Program at Hunter Elementary School.
Coordinator of Programming at Youth Shelter
Crittenden Center
Sioux City
07.1997 - 06.1998
- Hired, trained, scheduled, and supervised 40 youth counselors.
- Planned shelter programming for 20 residents, ages newborn to 17.
- Served as liaison between children, parents, schools, case workers, and family courts.
Education
J.D. -
Temple University Beasley School of Law
Philadelphia, PA05-2008
Bachelor of Arts - History & Secondary Education
Goshen College
Goshen, IN05-1996
Skills
- Data analysis
- Legal & legislative research
- Report writing & editing
- Coalition building
- Public speaking
- Project management
Timeline
Director of Policy Research
Research for Action
03.2016 - Current
Adjunct Instructor
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
08.2012 - 05.2013
Staff Attorney
Education Law Center–PA
01.2009 - 03.2016
High School Social Studies Teacher
Freire Charter School
08.2003 - 06.2008
High School and Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Math Civics Sciences Charter School
07.1999 - 06.2003
GED and Adult Basic Education Teacher
Lutheran Settlement House
07.1998 - 07.1999
Coordinator of Programming at Youth Shelter
Crittenden Center
07.1997 - 06.1998
J.D. -
Temple University Beasley School of Law
Bachelor of Arts - History & Secondary Education
Goshen College
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