Senior Attorney
As Senior Attorney, Chris Yarrell has led statewide efforts to expand access to education-focused legal assistance, including directing the Right to High-Quality Education for All project. He has partnered with legal aid organizations and other community stakeholders to challenge systemic barriers in general K-12 education, special education, and career and technical education. Chris has expertise in alternate assessment policy, school finance, and education rights under federal law and state constitutions.
Chris began his career as a City Year AmeriCorps member, serving as a 7th and 8th grade ELA and math tutor, respectively. In 2014, he joined the NYC Department of Education as a Community Coordinator, helping families and community-based organizations navigate the Universal Pre-K (UPK) application and enrollment processes. He later held several other roles in municipal government, including as Policy Adviser and Director of External Affairs in the NYC Office of the Mayor. Chris earned his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was a Virginia Public Service Scholar and member of the Raven Society. He also holds a B.S. from the University of Georgia and an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University.
