Feb 23rd, 2021Biden Administration Acts Swiftly – Signaling Change to Issues Impacting Schools
On January 20, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., issued an Executive Order, titled, “Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.” Signaling a dramatic change from prior federal guidance pertaining to transgender issues, the order states, in part, that, “Children should be able to learn without …
Feb 23rd, 2021Oversight of Student Activity Funds is Not to be Taken Lightly
Teachers often serve as extraclassroom activity advisors. Extraclassroom activities, in turn, often involve student fundraising efforts. Students use the fundraising experience to learn basic financial literacy and accounting, with the goal of using the money raised to participate in an extraclassroom experience. Club advisors should be provided with written guidance and support regarding their financial …
Feb 23rd, 2021A Refresher on Bullying and IEPs
In a 2011 decision, T.K. v. New York City Dep’t of Ed., 779 F. Supp.2d 289 (E.D.N.Y. 2011), the U.S. District Court determined that there may be times when a Committee on Special Education (“CSE”) is required to address bullying in a student’s Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”) and that failure to do so may deny …
Jan 28th, 2021Mandatory COVID Vaccinations for Employees? Not Yet.
The recent roll-out of COVID-19 vaccinations has raised hopes of a 2021 return to the workplace for most public school employees. Although the present availability of vaccines is still quite limited, and the prospect of society reaching “herd immunity” is still many months away, questions are already being raised about whether an employer can mandate …
Jan 28th, 2021NYSED Releases Guidance on Supporting the Graduating Class of 2021
The State Education Department recently released a guidance memo that builds upon the previous school reopening guidance to describe specific strategies and supports that schools should have in place to support graduating high school seniors during the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s high school seniors are in a unique position due to the pandemic and …
Jan 28th, 2021Free Speech Showdown – Social Media and Students’ Rights
Free speech has always been and remains a hotly contested issue in our society, especially in the public school context. There is a delicate balancing act between recognition of schools’ necessity to maintain an orderly environment conducive to learning and their students’ First Amendment rights. Last summer, in B.L. v. Mahanoy Area School District, the …
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