Earlier this month, the General Assembly passed House Bill 7276, now Public Act 17-220, which contains a number of provisions aimed at providing “mandate relief” to boards of education. Section 5 of Public Act 17-220, effective July 1, 2017, … Read more
Archives: Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities
Subscribe to Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities RSS FeedShipman & Goodwin Hosts Annual Law Day Event
On May 3, 2017, Connecticut area high school students learned firsthand about the legal profession at Shipman & Goodwin’s Law Day 2017, an annual event designed to give students from diverse backgrounds an inside view of life at a law … Read more
Fourth Circuit Reverses Preliminary Injunction in Transgender Student Rights Case; Adds its Two Cents
In March of 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States remanded the high profile transgender student rights case, Gloucester County School Board v. G.G. ex rel. Grimm, no 16-273, to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for further … Read more
High School Sleuths Expose Questionable Credentials of New Principal
Earlier this month in the city of Pittsburg, Kansas, a group of curious student journalists raised serious questions about the credentials of their newly hired principal, Amy Robertson. According to the Kansas City Star, Robertson had received 100 percent … Read more
Webinar Recap: Board Member Boot Camp – Conducting BOE Hearings
On January 26th attorney Gary Brochu provided another webinar in the Board Member Boot Camp webinar series. The focus of the latest webinar was the conducting of hearings by boards of education. The webinar discussed the various hearings that … Read more
Gary Brochu Presents at NSBA Meeting on a Board of Education’s Path to Excellence
On March 25, 2017, Shipman & Goodwin attorney Gary Brochu delivered a presentation entitled “From Awful to Award Winning: One Board’s Path to Excellence” at the National School Boards Association meeting in Denver, Colorado. Gary has presented numerous times at … Read more
Last Chance to Register! Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp – Conducting BOE Hearings
There’s still time to register for this complimentary webinar offered to board of education members and chairs.
One of the responsibilities of serving on a board of education is serving as a hearing panelist. Boards of education are statutorily and … Read more
Supreme Court Clarifies FAPE Standard in Endrew F. Case
IEPs Must Be Reasonably Calculated to Enable Appropriate Progress in Light of Child’s Circumstances
For the first time in nearly 35 years, the Supreme Court of the United States has addressed the legal standard by which courts determine whether a … Read more
Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp – Conducting BOE Hearings
One of the responsibilities of serving on a board of education is serving as a hearing panelist. Boards of education are statutorily and often contractually required to conduct hearings, placing board members in a new and often unfamiliar role.
Join … Read more
Webinar Recap: Your Guide to Robert’s Rules of Order
On January 26th Attorney Gary Brochu provided another webinar in the Board Member Boot Camp webinar series. The focus of the latest webinar was the conducting of board of education meetings utilizing Robert’s Rules. The webinar provided a framework … Read more
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy Instructs Connecticut Public Schools to Follow Withdrawn Federal Guidance regarding Transgender Students
Yesterday, in response to the withdrawal of federal guidance relating to the rights of transgender students, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy instructed Connecticut public schools to continue to follow the withdrawn guidance, pending the release of state guidance from the Connecticut … Read more
U.S. Departments of Justice and Education Withdraw Federal Transgender Student Guidance
On February 22, 2017, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education withdrew guidance for educational institutions, issued in 2015 and 2016, that took the position that the prohibitions in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and implementing regulations … Read more
State Department of Education Addresses Immigration Executive Order
On January 30, 2017, the Connecticut State Department of Education (“CSDE”) released a memorandum titled, “Guidance for Districts Regarding Refugee Students,” in response to an Executive Order signed on January 27, 2017, restricting immigration into the United States. … Read more
U.S. Department of Education Changes Name of Office Responsible for FERPA
On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Department of Education issued new Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) regulations that change the name of office that administers and enforces FERPA from the Family Policy Compliance Office (“FPCO”) to the Office … Read more
Oral Argument Presented in Supreme Court Case Addressing the Level of Educational Benefit that must be Provided under IDEA
On January 11, 2017, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas County School District RE 1, Docket No. 15-187, to address the level of benefit a school … Read more
Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp — Your Guide to Robert’s Rules of Order
Join Shipman & Goodwin School Law attorney Gary R. Brochu for the next installment of our complimentary Board Member Boot Camp webinar series.
Robert’s Rules of Order is the recognized guide for conducting meetings and making decisions as a group. … Read more
Last Chance to Register! Board Meets World: A Board Member’s Guide to Working With Stakeholders
There’s still time to register for this complimentary seminar offered to board of education members.
School Law attorneys Richard A. Mills, Rebecca Rudnick Santiago and Benjamin P. FrazziniKendrick will provide board members with best practices and guidance regarding effective … Read more
Register Now for Board Meets World: A Board Member’s Guide to Working With Stakeholders
This workshop will provide board of education members with best practices and guidance regarding effective board operation with respect to internal governance, administration, school staff, students and the public (including parents and constituents).
Workshop topics will include:
- Fostering positive and
United States Supreme Court to Hear Case Concerning Transgender Student Rights under Title IX
Amid a national background of litigation concerning the U.S. Department of Education’s directives involving the rights of transgender students, on October 28, 2016, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari to review the prominent 4th Circuit Court of … Read more
Supreme Court to Revisit Rowley IDEA FAPE Standard for First Time in Nearly 35 Years
On September 29, 2016, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear the case of Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas County School District RE 1, Docket No. 15-187 to decide the question “What is … Read more
U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Justice Release Dear Colleague Letters Jointly Announcing New SECURe Rubrics for School Resource Officer Programs
On September 8, 2016, the United States Department of Education and the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (“COPS”) jointly released new guidance regarding school resource officer programs. The new Safe School-based Enforcement through Collaboration, … Read more
Last Chance to Register for this Complimentary Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp – A Guide to Effective Board Meetings
It’s not too late to register for this complimentary webinar for Board of Education members.
The Board of Education meeting is perhaps the single most important aspect of the work of a Board, and certainly its most visible one. A … Read more
Teacher Retirement Board Issues Revised Guidelines for the Reemployment of Retired Teachers
On June 29, 2016, the Teacher Retirement Board (“TRB”) issued new guidance concerning the reemployment of retired teachers. One of the new and significant guidelines for post-retirement employment concerned the application of federal rules to qualified pension plans. Specifically, TRB … Read more
Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA Releases New Rule Regarding School Wellness Policies
The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture has released its final rule regarding Local School Wellness Policies under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. All local school wellness policies must be compliant with the … Read more
