The laws governing the termination of tenured teachers in Connecticut will look significantly different beginning July 1, 2026, as a result of sweeping labor
Continue Reading General Assembly Amends Teacher Termination Statute
Emerging School Law Issues
Jessica represents schools in a variety of education, labor relations and employment law matters. She negotiates certified and non-certified collective bargaining agreements on behalf of numerous public boards of education. Jessica also represents school districts in labor and employment disputes, freedom of information hearings, teacher tenure proceedings, student disciplinary matters, election law matters, and other legal proceedings arising in the education context. In addition, Jessica advises schools on education policies and practices, compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, and other legal matters arising in the education context.
The laws governing the termination of tenured teachers in Connecticut will look significantly different beginning July 1, 2026, as a result of sweeping labor…
Continue Reading General Assembly Amends Teacher Termination Statute
Last week, Governor Lamont signed into law Public Act 26-1, bringing about changes that will affect the age at which students may begin kindergarten in…
Continue Reading New Law Phases Out Early Kindergarten Admission in Connecticut
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Guest Columnists: Dori Pagé Antonetti and Jessica Richman Smith
Dear Legal Mailbag,
I am an assistant principal at…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag – 1/8/26
Connecticut school administrators often grapple with whether to discipline students for speech that occurs off school grounds and outside a school-sponsored activity (“off-campus speech”). Under…
Continue Reading Second Circuit Finds School District Was Not Justified in Disciplining Student for Off-Campus Social Media Post
On January 9, 2025, a federal district court in Kentucky ruled that the 2024 Title IX Regulations “are invalid and must be set aside.” Despite…
Continue Reading OCR Confirms That the 2024 Title IX Regulations Are Vacated
Last year was a turbulent one for Title IX, and although we are just a few days into 2025, this turbulence has persisted into the…
Continue Reading 2024 Title IX Regulations Are Likely Vacated
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Education issued the 2024 Title IX Final Rule on sex-based harassment and discrimination (the “Final Rule”). The implementation…
Continue Reading Visit Shipman’s Title IX Resource Center
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court considered whether James Freed, a city manager who maintained a “mixed use” Facebook account on which he posted information…
Continue Reading Supreme Court Announces New Test for Determining Whether Social Media Posts Constitute State Action
Last week, the Education Committee considered HB 5339 and, after discussion, voted to advance it beyond the committee. The proposed bill would prohibit institutions of…
Continue Reading Proposed Legislation Would Bar Institutions of Higher Education from Considering School Disciplinary History in Admissions
In June 2023, the Governor signed Public Act 23-167, which makes significant changes to Connecticut’s bullying law that become mandatory for the 2025-2026 school…
Continue Reading School Climate Policy and Uniform Complaint Form for Challenging Behavior and Bullying Now Available