ADA Accessibility

Department of Justice Issues Final Rule on Web Accessibility and the ADADOJ Issues Proposed Rules Regarding State and Local Government Website Accessibility

Board of Education, Generally

CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/24/25CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/10/25CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/6/25

Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities

CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/24/25CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/10/25CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/6/25

CABE Journal Columns

CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/10/25See You In Court - March 2025CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/6/25

Certification

Teacher has Certification Suspended for One Year Following Facebook Posts that Ridicule Student’s NameAlert: Governor Signs Budget Implementation Bill Regarding EducationSubstitute Teachers Exempt From Bachelor’s Degree Standard For 2009-2010

Certified Staff and Collective Bargaining

Research Shows that Contractual Teacher Work Rules Can Impact a District's Ability to Address Student NeedsCustodian's Remark About "Bringing the School Down With Me" Sufficient Cause for TerminationTeacher's Breach of Contract Claim Dismissed Without Union Involvement

Child Abuse and Neglect

New DCF Policy Facilitates Online Reporting and Creates New Unit for School Districts!Reminder: Human Trafficking AwarenessLast Chance to Register for Upcoming Seminar! On the Front Lines: Raising Awareness of Child Trafficking and Exploitation in Connecticut’s Schools

Collective Bargaining

Governor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School EmployeesNew FMLA Regulations for School ParaprofessionalsSBMA Denies Union Grievance of Suspension for Insubordination

Collective Bargaining, Generally

Governor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School EmployeesSuperior Court Vacates Arbitration Award as Arbitration Panel did not Base Decision on ContractTypo in Collective Bargaining Agreement Costs City

Colleges and Universities

OCR Confirms That the 2024 Title IX Regulations Are Vacated2024 Title IX Regulations Are Likely VacatedDistrict Court Vacates New Overtime Rule, Making It Null and Void Nationwide

Constitutional Rights

OCR Issues Frequently Asked Questions and Connecticut State Board of Education Offers Guidance Regarding Dear Colleague Letter on Racial Discrimination and DEIOCR Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter on Racial DiscriminationDistrict Court Dismisses Challenge to Elimination of Religious Exemptions from School Vaccine Mandates

Discipline

Connecticut Supreme Court Upholds Expulsion of University Student over True Threat of Gun ViolenceSEE YOU IN COURT! – May 2019CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 3/13/2019

Discipline of Special Education Students

CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 4/24/2019CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 4/10/2019Anne Littlefield Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article "After the MDR: What to do if student's misbehavior is manifestation of disability"

Discrimination

CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/13/25OCR Issues Frequently Asked Questions and Connecticut State Board of Education Offers Guidance Regarding Dear Colleague Letter on Racial Discrimination and DEIOCR Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter on Racial Discrimination

Dismissal

Teacher's Challenge to Termination Because of Blog DeniedReport Highlights Different State Approaches to Tenure and Reduction in ForceTeacher Who Used School Laptop to Download Pornography Reinstated to Position by Court

Employer Obligations

CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/13/25OCR Issues Frequently Asked Questions and Connecticut State Board of Education Offers Guidance Regarding Dear Colleague Letter on Racial Discrimination and DEIOCR Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter on Racial Discrimination

Employer Responsibilities

Jessica Richman Smith and Thomas Mooney Answer Eight Key Questions for CASPA on Personnel Issues as the Pandemic EndsGovernor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School EmployeesSexual Harassment Training Requirements for School Districts

Employment of Teachers

Governor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School EmployeesInsufficient Investigation Allows Lawsuit to ProceedCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 4/10/2018

Environmental

Revisiting Lead Risks in Schools: Action Items for Independent SchoolsTake a Breath: Connecticut Legislature Provides Schedule Relief for Compliance With HVAC Requirements for Public Schools; Indoor Air Quality Obligations for 2024 UnchangedManaging Idle Time: This time in school buses

Establishment of Religion

District Court Dismisses Challenge to Elimination of Religious Exemptions from School Vaccine MandatesA Texas Judge Allows Religious Messages on BannersVirginia School Board Votes to Return Ten Commandments Displays to Schools

Evaluation

CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 5/29/2019State Board of Education Adopts PEAC Recommendation Regarding Use of Master Tests in Educator Evaluation PlansRegister Now for Teacher Evaluations in Connecticut: Where Are We Now?

Executive Orders

CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/24/25OCR Issues Frequently Asked Questions and Connecticut State Board of Education Offers Guidance Regarding Dear Colleague Letter on Racial Discrimination and DEIOCR Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter on Racial Discrimination

Extracurricular Activities

Tom Mooney to Present at the Annual Legal Update of the National Federation of High School AssociationsStatutory Changes to Athletic Trainer Laws: What’s New?CSDE Provides Guidance, FAQs on Civil Rights Protections and Supports for Transgender Students

Featured

OCR Issues Frequently Asked Questions and Connecticut State Board of Education Offers Guidance Regarding Dear Colleague Letter on Racial Discrimination and DEIOCR Issues “Dear Colleague” Letter on Racial DiscriminationPresident Trump Issues Executive Order Entitled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”

Federal and State Role in Education

President Trump Issues Executive Order Entitled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”CAS Legal Mailbag - 11/30/23CAS Legal Mailbag - 9/21/23

Finances

Social Security Administration Provides Updated Information for Increased Benefit Payments to Eligible Public School EmployeesGovernor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School EmployeesSEE YOU IN COURT! - June 2019

Free Exercise of Religion

District Court Dismisses Challenge to Elimination of Religious Exemptions from School Vaccine MandatesSchool District Faced with Possible Lawsuit for Prohibiting Candy Canes with Religious MessageCourt Rejects Student's Challenge to Student ID Badge Requirement

Freedom of Information

School Superintendents and Executive Session: A Cautionary Tale About the FOIASupreme Court Announces New Test for Determining Whether Social Media Posts Constitute State ActionSEE YOU IN COURT! – February 2019

Freedom of Speech

CAS Legal Mailbag - 12/12/24Regulating Political Speech in the School Setting

Immigration

CSDE Issues Guidance Regarding ICE Enforcement Actions at SchoolsWhat Schools Should Know About ICE Enforcement Actions

Independent Schools

Revisiting Lead Risks in Schools: Action Items for Independent SchoolsTuition Remission FAQs for Independent SchoolsConnecticut’s New Paid Sick Leave Law: What Independent Schools Need to Know

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

OSERS and OESE Release Guidance on Inclusive Educational Practices Regarding Students with DisabilitiesOffice for Civil Rights Releases New Data Snapshot Regarding the 2020-2021 Civil Rights Data CollectionPeter Maher Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article, "Pondering More Restrictive Placement for Unruly Student: Does it Constitute Predetermination?"

Liability

CAS Legal Mailbag - 10/10/24Fresh Air: New Indoor Air Quality and HVAC Requirements for Connecticut Public SchoolsMassachusetts' Supreme Court Finds Colleges May Face Liability for Student Suicide Under Certain Circumstances

Medical & Other Leaves

CAS Legal Mailbag - 1/30/25Connecticut’s New Paid Sick Leave Law: What Independent Schools Need to KnowJessica Richman Smith and Thomas Mooney Answer Eight Key Questions for CASPA on Personnel Issues as the Pandemic Ends

Most Recent Columns

CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/10/25See You In Court - March 2025CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/6/25

Non-Certified Staff and Collective Bargaining

New FMLA Regulations for School ParaprofessionalsContract Provision Allowing Removal of Bus Driver Does Not Violate Collective Bargaining Agreement

Public Schools

CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/24/25CAS Legal Mailbag - 4/10/25CAS Legal Mailbag - 3/20/25

Publications and Alerts

2024 Title IX Regulations Are Likely VacatedConnecticut’s New Paid Sick Leave Law: What Independent Schools Need to KnowDistrict Court Vacates New Overtime Rule, Making It Null and Void Nationwide

Records (Student Records)

See You In Court - November 2023CAS Legal Mailbag - 10/12/23SPPO Issues New Guidance Regarding FERPA and Student Health Records

Religion and the Schools

CAS Legal Mailbag - 12/12/24CAS Legal Mailbag - 9/28/23Second Circuit Upholds Law Repealing Religious Exemptions for Mandatory Immunization Requirements for School Enrollment

Residency and School Attendance

CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 2/20/2019CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 6/8/2018In Aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Connecticut School Districts Reminded of Obligations to Displaced Puerto Rican Students

Responsibilities

See You In Court - October 2023CAS Legal Mailbag - 9/28/23State Department of Education Issues Guidance Regarding Extension of Special Education Eligibility

Rights of Students

CSDE Releases Updated Guidance on Civil Rights Protections and Supports for Transgender StudentsCAS Legal Mailbag - 10/26/23State Department of Education Issues Guidance Regarding Extension of Special Education Eligibility

Rights of Teachers

U.S. Department of Labor Issues a New Rule with Ramifications for Overtime, But It Will Not Affect All School EmployeesGovernor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School EmployeesCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 3/27/2019

S&G News

Thomas Mooney Receives President's Award from Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS)Shipman & Goodwin Attorneys Presenting at the 2019 CABE/CAPSS ConventionJessica Richman Smith Named a Partner of the Firm

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

OCR Releases New Resources Regarding Common Medical Conditions and Section 504 ComplianceCAS Legal Mailbag - 10/26/23Julie Fay Quoted in Special Ed Connection Article, "IHPs versus Section 504 plans: Understanding the difference, and why it matters"

Seminars and Events

Past and upcoming education seminars and events in Connecticut.

Register Now for Connecticut Association Of Schools' (CAS) Annual Leadership Conference 2024Navigating the Ethical Landscape of AI: Examining Responsible AI Practices | A CASBO WorkshopThe 2023 Legislative Session: What Connecticut School Leaders Need to Know

Special Education

OSERS and OESE Release Guidance on Inclusive Educational Practices Regarding Students with DisabilitiesCAS Legal Mailbag - 12/19/24CAS Legal Mailbag - 12/5/24

Students

CAS Legal Mailbag - 10/10/24CAS Legal Mailbag - 5/30/24Office for Civil Rights Releases New Data Snapshot Regarding the 2020-2021 Civil Rights Data Collection

Superintendents

CAS Legal Mailbag - 10/10/24See You In Court - April 2023Thomas Mooney, Andreana Bellach and Natalia Sieira Millan Present CAPSS Webinar "Who Will Teach the Children? Staffing Challenges in the Time of COVID-19"

Supervision of Students

CAS Legal Mailbag - 10/10/24Massachusetts' Supreme Court Finds Colleges May Face Liability for Student Suicide Under Certain CircumstancesNAIS and TABS Task Force Issue Final Report on Educator Sexual Misconduct

Teacher Employment, Evaluation and Dismissal

U.S. Department of Labor Issues a New Rule with Ramifications for Overtime, But It Will Not Affect All School EmployeesSee You In Court - October 2023Governor Lamont Extends FFCRA Paid Leave Provisions for School Employees

Tenure

CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 4/10/2018Report Highlights Different State Approaches to Tenure and Reduction in ForceArbitrator Nods Off During Teacher Termination Hearing

Title IX

President Trump Issues Executive Order Entitled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”OCR Announces “Directed Investigation” into All-Gender BathroomsCAS Legal Mailbag - 1/23/25

Uncategorized

CAS Legal Mailbag - 12/5/24Peter Maher Quoted in SpecialEdConnection Article Entitled "See notice of unilateral placement as chance to win parents back to IEP"See You In Court - November 2024