Archives: Public Schools

Subscribe to Public Schools RSS Feed

Office for Civil Rights Launches Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative

By Julie C. Fay, Natalie S. Wagner and Benjamin FrazziniKendrick on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Public Schools, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

On May 17, 2018, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the launch of a Website Accessibility Technical Assistance Initiative (the “Initiative”). As part of the Initiative, OCR will offer a series of general and personalized … Read more

Massachusetts’ Supreme Court Finds Colleges May Face Liability for Student Suicide Under Certain Circumstances

By Julie C. Fay, Leander A. Dolphin and Melika S. Forbes on Posted in Board of Education, Generally, Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities, Colleges and Universities, Independent Schools, Liability, Public Schools, Responsibilities, Students, Superintendents, Supervision of Students

Earlier this month, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled favorably for Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) and three school officials in a wrongful death lawsuit closely watched by educational institutions for close to a decade.  The court found that while a special … Read more

Peter Maher Presents at Lehigh University’s 46th Special Education Law Conference

By Peter J. Maher on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Public Schools, Seminars and Events, Special Education

On May 11, 2018, Peter Maher was a co-presenter during Lehigh University’s 46th Special Education Law Conference. The conference is a one-day program that provides a year-in-review case law keynote and various break-out sessions. The topics for this year’s sessions … Read more

Second Circuit Holds Endrew F. Did Not Heighten FAPE Standard in Second Circuit; Rejects Parents’ Procedural Claims and Request for Private Transition Program

By Susan C. Freedman and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Publications and Alerts, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Special Education

On March 23, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued an important precedential opinion in Mr. P. & Mrs. P. v. West Hartford Board of Education, 885 F.3d 735, (2d Cir. 2018). In its decision, … Read more

SDE Issues New Guidelines for IEEs and In-School Observations

By Alyce Alfano and Peter J. Maher on Posted in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Schools, Publications and Alerts

On March 27, 2018, the Connecticut State Department of Education (SDE) issued the long-awaited and much-anticipated Guidelines Regarding Independent Educational Evaluations at Public Expense and In-School Observations. These Guidelines are the result of months of study, review and participation … Read more

SEE YOU IN COURT! – April 2018

By Thomas B. Mooney on Posted in Board of Education, Generally, Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities, CABE Journal Columns, Freedom of Information, Most Recent Columns, Public Schools, Publications and Alerts

After serving as Chairperson of the Nutmeg Board of Education for six long years, Mr. Chairman announced unexpectedly at the last meeting in February that his company had transferred him to Illinois. At what would be his last meeting, Mr. … Read more

Webinar: Opioids and Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Are Employers Left High and Dry?

By Kevin M. Roy and Keegan Drenosky on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Independent Schools, Public Schools, Seminars and Events

Join Shipman & Goodwin labor and employment attorneys for this complimentary CLE webinar providing a discussion of changing laws and legal concerns related to opioids and medical marijuana in the workplace. Presenters will review recent court decisions, the interaction between … Read more

NAIS and TABS Task Force Issue Final Report on Educator Sexual Misconduct

By Julie C. Fay and Natalie S. Wagner on Posted in Child Abuse and Neglect, Independent Schools, Supervision of Students, Teacher Employment, Evaluation and Dismissal

The Independent School Task Force on Educator Sexual Misconduct has released its final report, Prevention and Response: Recommendations for Independent School Leaders. This report incorporates feedback submitted in response to the August 2017 draft report released for comment and … Read more

Sixth Circuit: Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Based on Transgender and/or Transitioning Status

By Anne H. Littlefield and Melika S. Forbes on Posted in Board of Education, Generally, Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities, Colleges and Universities, Discrimination, Employer Obligations, Employer Responsibilities, Independent Schools, Liability, Public Schools, Religion and the Schools, Responsibilities, Rights of Teachers, Superintendents, Teacher Employment, Evaluation and Dismissal

Less than one week after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its own landmark Title VII … Read more

Plan Now to Retain Your Workforce: The Uncertain Future of Employment Authorization for H-4 Dependent Spouses

By Brenda A. Eckert and Ashley E. Mendoza on Posted in Colleges and Universities, Independent Schools, Public Schools

Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-lB visa holders have been eligible for U.S. employment authorization, following a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) rule change in May 2015[1]. Since that time, thousands of spouses with H-4 classifications have … Read more

LexBlog