EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES
Saralyn Grass, Ed.D.
PreK–12 School Safety & Standards of Care Expert
I provide expert witness and litigation support services — including case review, written expert opinions, depositions, and trial testimony — in cases involving child care licensing, negligent supervision, mandated reporting failures, and institutional negligence in youth-serving organizations.
WHAT I DO
I've spent over two decades inside the systems your case is about.
As CEO of Kids Hope Alliance, a $50M+ public agency overseeing child care and youth development programs citywide, I didn’t just study child care standards. I enforced them. I wrote the administrative rules that govern early learning programs. I directed the teams responsible for provider compliance, incident review and corrective action.
When legal teams retain me, they get an expert who has held the roles, made the decisions and understands – from the inside – how these organizations are supposed to operate and what it looks like when they fail.
Childcare Licensing & Compliance
I have written and enforced the licensing regulations your case likely references. I can speak to what providers are required to do and what constitutes a departure from that standard.
Negligent Supervision & Child Injury
I evaluate staff conduct, supervision ratios and program conditions against applicable regulations, internal policies and the national standard of care for youth-serving settings.
Mandated Reporting Failures
I assess whether individuals and organizations met their legal and ethical obligations when suspected abuse or neglect was present – and what the consequences of failure should be.
PreK-12 Program Safety Standards
Environmental safety, incident documentation, corrective action obligations and supervision standards across licensed early learning, afterschool and K-12 program settings.
Organizational & Institutional Negligence
I evaluate whether a youth-serving organization met its duty of care through appropriate hiring, training, supervision and oversight at every level of the organization.
Child Welfare Policy & Systemic Failure
Drawing on statewide policy leadership and my work as a Guardian ad Litem, I can speak to how child welfare systems are designed to protect children and how they fall short.
HOW I WORK
Straightforward. Thorough. Built to hold up in court.
I work directly with retaining counsel from initial case review through testimony. My reports are written to withstand Daubert challenge and my testimony is designed to communicate complex regulatory standards clearly – to judges, juries and opposing counsel alike.
01
Initial Case Review
I review case materials, identify the relevant standards and give you an honest assessment of whether the facts support engagement.
02
Standards Analysis
Systematic comparison of conduct and conditions against applicable licensing regulations, provider policies and national best practices
03
Written Expert Opinion
A clear, well-documented report with my findings and the methodology behind each conclusion. Written to survive aggressive cross-examination.
04
Deposition & Testimony
Composed, credible testimony that translates regulatory complexity into plain language without losing precision or defensibility.
Education
- Ed.D. Educational Policy & Program Evaluation – Florida State University with Graduate Certificates in Global Pathways and Emergency Management & Homeland Security (2014)
- M.S., Human Development – Virginia Tech with a concentration in special needs across child & adolescent development and community agencies (2005)
- B.S., Psychology – University of North Florida with a focus on Early Childhood Development and Learning Systems (2004)
- SEAK Expert Witness training (2023, 2024 & 2025)
Professional Experience
- CEO & CAO, Kids Hope Alliance – directed & oversaw $50M+ public agency and annual RFP program
- Executive Director, Association of Early Learning Coalitions – representing all 30 Florida Early Learning Coalitions in statewide policy
- Adjunct professor, UNF and FSU – instructing early childhood policy, law and administration at undergraduate and graduate levels
- Vice President/Chief Programs Officer, The Children’s Forum – Statewide direction of Help Me Grow Florida initiative, directed agency-wide operations across childcare policy & grant initiatives
Ready to discuss your case?
I accept engagements nationally. Reach out directly to assess fit, availability & next steps.