Education Law Insights: Recent Episodes
Franczek
On Friday, April 19, the Department of Education released new Title IX regulations, which will be effective August 1, 2024. As expected, the new regulations mark a significant departure from the 2020 Title IX regulations with respect to how institutions are required to respond to complaints of sex-based discrimination. Please join our Title IX team for a discussion providing you with a high-level overview of the new Title IX regulations, key changes, and a discussion of action items your institution can take in preparation for their implementation on August 1, 2024.
Join Franczek Attorneys Jenny Lee and Mike Warner for a focused discussion delving into the implications of the Supreme Court decision Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College. We will analyze the ruling’s impact on affirmative action policies in higher education and discuss its broader ramifications for diversity and inclusion efforts in the workplace.
Join Franczek attorneys Amy Dickerson and James Petrungaro for a focused 30-minute discussion on preparing for spring teacher staffing issues. This discussion will cover tried and true best practices as well as new legislation affecting probationary teacher non-renewals, reductions in force and teacher tenure.
Join Kaitlin Atlas, Nicki Bazer, and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at New Trier School District 203 Peter Tragos for a legal and practical discussion on the shifting cultural times we're living through regarding books bans, curriculum objections, and much more.
Join Franczek attorneys Adam Dauksas, James Petrungaro, and Emily Tulloch for a focused discussion on the implications of the new employment history review process under Faith’s Law.
Join Franczek attorneys Kaitlin Atlas and Jared Costanzo for a discussion on recent amendments to the Part 226 special education regulations.
This episode, Franczek attorneys Kaitlin Atlas and Amy Dickerson discuss top issues that Complaint Managers and Non-Discrimination Coordinators should be aware of in 2023, including recent and anticipated updates from the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on Title IX, Section 504, and Title VI, and best practices for responding to reports of harassment or discrimination.
Join us for another focused thirty-minute discussion on top issues administrators need to know on key legal topics for schools. In this episode, Franczek attorney Kaitlin Atlas will focus on IEP Best Practices and Ways to Avoid Due Process. We address the recent increase in due process requests state wide and provide best practice tips to keep your school district out of due process. Time will be reserved for audience questions.
In this episode, Franczek attorneys Melissa Sobota and Caroline Kane focus on Collective Bargaining issues that school districts face, and how to navigate them. We cover best practices for labor relations as well as how to prepare for and handle the unique challenges Districts face in collective bargaining due to the current state of the economy as well as issues of worker burnout.
Join Franczek attorneys Ares Dalianis, Michael Hernandez, and Scott Metcalf for a discussion on several important developments in property taxes and the impact on Illinois school districts. In this episode, they will cover recent legislative changes directly effecting school district business operations, the latest on property tax incentives and what you need to know about them, when to expect the second installment of Cook County property taxes, the latest goings on at the Property Tax Appeal Board and in the Circuit Court with valuation objections, and assessment trends in Cook and the suburban counties.
In this episode, we offer another focused thirty-minute discussion on top issues administrators need to know on key legal topics for schools. With the school year beginning and student registration under way, this discussion will focus on key issues surrounding student residency and homeless students. Join Franczek attorneys Kaitlin Atlas, Jared Costanzo, and Koga Ndikum-Moffor for a discussion of both the legal requirements and practical tips regarding student residency and homelessness.
Join Franczek Partners Dana Fattore Crumley and Amy Dickerson for a podcast addressing frequently asked questions regarding school threat assessment procedures. All Illinois school districts are required to have a threat assessment procedure in place, and prior to the start of each school year must now file a copy of that procedure with a local law enforcement agency and the regional office of education (or the State Board of Education as applicable for Chicago Public Schools), along with a list identifying the members of the school district’s threat assessment team. Charter schools are also now expressly required to follow the threat assessment procedures implemented by its authorizing school district or implement its own threat assessment procedure that complies with the requirements of the School Safety Drill Act. During the webinar, we review the requirements and best practices for developing and implementing a threat assessment procedure, including the requirements for school districts under the Illinois School Safety Drill Act for such procedures.
Join Franczek’s Title IX Team as we review the major changes contained in the proposed Title IX rules issued by the Department of Education. We provide a summary of the changes, answer key questions top of mind for school administrators, and identify the key issues for what these mean for your educational institutions.
Join us for a COVID update where we discuss current IDPH and ISBE guidance, executive orders and more, and what it all means for your school communities. With the 2022-2023 school year right around the corner, Franczek attorneys Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Amy Kosanovich Dickerson, and Jennifer Smith will review the legal landscape on COVID that schools will have to navigate and address critical questions top of mind for school administrators. Among other topics, we will discuss the updated testing guidance recently issued by ISBE and IDPH and Governor Pritzker’s recent Executive Order extending the testing requirement for unvaccinated staff. With the order extended only until July 24 and additional questions looming, we expect additional clarity and further guidance in the weeks to come, and will discuss all of this and more.
In this episode, we offer another focused thirty-minute discussion on the top financial and operational issues administrators and board members need to know. As school districts enter the summer construction season and begin preparing budgets for the next school year, Franczek attorneys Scott Metcalf and Ares Dalianis will discuss the latest developments impacting tax collection, budgeting, and contracting.
Join us as we offer another focused thirty-minute webinar identifying the top three issues administrators need to know on key legal topics for schools. This month, as the school year winds down and districts look ahead to next year, Franczek attorneys Jennifer Smith and Amy Dickerson will review the most critical staff trainings districts should provide, procedures to have in place, and discussions to have with your administration and boards to best prepare for a smooth, successful school year.
Join us for a discussion of student restraint. In this episode, Franczek attorneys Jennifer Smith and Emily Tulloch will help your team identify when the new RTO requirements are triggered and when they are not.
In this episode, join us for a discussion of curriculum objections. Franczek attorneys Dana Fattore Crumley, Nicki Bazer, and Amy Dickerson will identify the top three considerations when establishing your schools’ procedures for reviewing curriculum objections and best practices for processing such objections.
In this episode, Education Law Insights Podcast host Kendra Yoch is joined Franczek Partner Scott Metcalf to discuss important business-related issues that school leadership face such as construction contracts, property tax issues, and education foundations.
In this episode, Franczek partners Kendra Yoch and Jennifer Smith discuss Title IX Investigations involving LGBTQ+ parties and understanding Title IX regulations as they pertain to the LGBTQ+ community.
Join our regular COVID-19 panel of Franczek attorneys, including Nicki Bazer, Jennifer Smith, and Kendra Yoch as we discuss the latest information that schools need to know surrounding the Executive Order and updated ISBE and IDPH guidance. We discuss the new shortened timeframes for exclusion as well as updates on face coverings, test-to-stay, and temporary school closures, among other key topics. As always, send us any COVID-related questions or topics you’d like us to discuss.
Inequitable funding impacts educational programming and student outcomes. Illinois has historically had one of the most inequitable distribution of education dollars in the country. In this episode, we explore how the Evidence Based Funding formula works and the impact since the legislation passed in 2017. We are happy to welcome Robin Steans and Melissa Figueira of Advance Illinois to help us understand the nuts and bolts of the funding formula. We are also excited to welcome Dr. Chuck Lane, Superintendent of Centralia High School District, and Dr. Kimako Patterson, Superintendent of Prairie-Hills School District 144, to discuss the impact that the new formula has had on their districts and their efforts to advance equity. Finally, we preview proposed changes to school funding that are on the horizon. Franczek partners Amy Dickerson and Kendra Yoch will serve as moderators.
This episode dives into ways that schools can support students in exploring and securing post-secondary options and in taking steps to reach their college and career goals in ways that are inclusive and equity-driven. We are excited to welcome Aide Acosta, Chief College Officer at Noble Network of Charter Schools, and Candace Kyles, Senior Director of College Graduation Office at University of Chicago Charter School. Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson serve as moderators as we discuss schools’ strategies for preparing students for success after high school and supporting students in building foundations and connections to expand opportunities. Our panelists also talk about the support they provide to alumni to increase student perseverance through college and to family-sustaining employment. Please send your questions our way and join us for an engaging discussion.
This episode will feature school districts with district- and school-level diversity and equity leadership teams, led by teachers and administrators throughout the district community. We are excited to welcome Mr. Tony Medina, Principal at Palatine High School in Township High School District 211; Dr. Rob Lang, Assistant Superintendent for Staff Services at Community High School District 99; Dr. Shawn Messmer, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Innovation at Maine Township High School District 207, and Franczek Partner Michael Hernandez. Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson serve as moderators as we discuss the models utilized at each of our speakers’ districts; strategies for engaging a variety of stakeholders; maintaining strong leadership, momentum, and continuity; and legal considerations for decentralized models. We also take a closer look at the equity goals contained in ISBE’s 2020-2023 strategic plan, including the plan for incorporating an Equity Journey Continuum tool into each district’s public report card by the 2022 reporting year.
In this episode, Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson, along with Franczek attorney Emily Tulloch discuss some of the highlights of new legislation that have impacted the School Law landscape. The full summary of changes in School Law can be found and downloaded on our website at www.franczek.com.
Our regular COVID-19 webinar panel of Franczek attorneys, including Nicki Bazer, Amy Dickerson, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Kendra Yoch continue discussing updates on the latest information that schools need to know surrounding recent ISBE and IDPH guidance issued 9/21/21. In this episode, we discuss the recent executive orders, emergency regulations, vaccines, close contacts, school exclusions, and more.
This episode of the Education Insights Law Podcast focuses on setting Equity priorities and plans for the new school year. We are excited to welcome Dr. Valerie McCall, Director of Educational Equity at West Aurora School District 129, and Nate Rouse, Director of Equity, Race, and Cultural Diversity Initiatives at Barrington School District 220. Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson serve as moderators as we discuss the process of setting priorities, engaging stakeholders, and building equity into the fabric of the district. Our guests talk about the role of equity audits; developing the capacity and participation of students, staff, and community; and overcoming barriers that impede progress toward established goals.
This episode will focus on engaging and reengaging students and families following the disruptions over the last year and a half. We are excited to welcome Dr. Zakieh Mohammed, Senior Manager for Attendance and Truancy, Office of Student Support and Engagement; Adrian Segura, Interim Chief Officer for Family and Community Engagement; and Claire Bohmann, Manager for Students in Temporary Living Situations, all of the Chicago Public Schools. The work of engaging students and families in the school community is always critical. And after more than a year of remote and hybrid learning through a pandemic that brought disruptions to all aspects of life, reconnecting with and supporting students is more important than ever. Chicago Public Schools is undertaking enormous projects to reach thousands of families to get students back into school and connected with needed supports. Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson serve as moderators as we discuss strategies and legal considerations related to re-engaging students, especially those who have been truant and those who are experiencing homelessness.
Join our regular COVID-19 panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Amy Dickerson, Jennifer Smith, and Kendra Yoch as we continue discussing updates on the latest information that schools need to know for reopening safely in Fall 2021. In this episode, we discuss the latest CDC, IDPH, and local health department guidance on masking, special education legal updates, remote learning, quarantining, and more.
Lawsuit threats, raucous board meetings, and unwelcome media scrutiny—schools, colleges, and universities across the country are in the crosshairs regarding the ever-changing legal landscape for student and employee rights with respect to LGBTQ+ individuals. Join Franczek P.C. Higher Education Group Co-Chair Jennifer Smith and Franczek partners Nicki Bazer and Kendra Yoch for a fast-paced discussion regarding your many questions on this important topic. Issues addressed will include current legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace and the classroom, school authority to limit speech that straddles the line between free speech and LGBTQ+ harassment, and LGBTQ+ participation in athletics.
Our regular COVID-19 webinar panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Kendra Yoch will be back July 14 to provide an update on the latest information that schools need to know for reopening safely in Fall 2021. We know districts are working hard to prepare for the upcoming school year and digest the new guidance from the CDC, IDPH, and ISBE. In this episode, we’ll discuss the latest guidance and what it means for districts related to masking, physical distancing, quarantining, remote learning, the impact of student and staff vaccination status, and more.
This month our Educational Equity webinar will focus on student discipline, specifically racial disparities and disproportionality in exclusionary discipline, relationships with SROs, and improving school climate. We are thrilled to have Dr. Jerry Anderson, Principal at Bloom High School in Bloom Township High School District 206, and Dr. Ellen Swanson, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services in Des Plaines School District 62, join us for this webinar. Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson will serve as moderators and Emily Tulloch will highlight legal considerations. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) reveals continued disproportionality in school discipline responses, particularly when comparing Black and White students and in relation to students with disabilities. In this session, we will discuss steps school districts can take to comply with legal requirements, avoid liability, and combat disproportionality, including through the use of restorative disciplinary practices, staff training, and culturally responsive instruction.
What training must your school, college, or university complete under Title IX for 2021-2022? What training should it offer, even if not required. Join us for a discussion to begin your planning for Title IX training for the coming school year.
Truly committing to DEI requires much more than a simple revision to an organization’s mission statement, training, or public statements of support made by top executives. These actions, although needed first steps, should be accompanied by a plan for launching and measuring specific DEI initiatives.
Achieving DEI commitments ultimately require measurable, achievable, and legally compliant goals. While this isn't directly related to Education Law, this important topic impacts all aspects of our society.
Please join Franczek attorney Michael A. Warner, and Labor Economist Candice Rosevear of Global Economics Group for an in-depth discussion on how to legally and effectively measure workforce diversity and establish quantifiable goals to increase workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Our presentation will include the following topics:
- The legal framework surrounding voluntary affirmative action initiatives and DEI goal setting.
- The social, legal, and business risk of not engaging (or improperly engaging) in DEI goal setting.
- How to measure existing workforce diversity and pay equity and collect useful DEI metrics.
- The methodologies used to quantify and establish achievable DEI goals.
- How to implement DEI goals legally and effectively.
This month our Educational Equity webinar will discuss special education, specifically disproportionality related to the identification of students with disabilities, placement of students in restrictive settings, and exclusionary discipline of students with disabilities. We are pleased to have with us Cheryl Caesar, Assistant Director of Diverse Learners at Waukegan Community Unit School District 60; Jeremy Duffy, Senior Legal Compliance Officer also at Waukegan School District; and Dr. Jennifer Sterpin, Director of Special Education for Lake Forest High School District 115. Kendra Yoch and Amy Dickerson will serve as moderators. Special education has a relatively unique legal requirement obligating school districts to review data related to student race and ethnicity and take steps to address significant disproportionalities. In this session, we will look at steps districts can take to prevent and minimize disproportionality, including strengthening MTSS, staff training, inclusive placement practices, and restorative disciplinary practices.
We are delighted to bring you Dr. Christopher Berry for a discussion on the single most important revenue source for Illinois school districts. His research on property taxes was recently highlighted in the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune. In this episode, Dr. Berry and Franczek partner Ares Dalianis examine the effect of the assessment appeals process on the overall fairness of property tax systems.
Dr. Berry is the William J. and Alicia Townsend Friedman Professor at the University of Chicago. He is also the director of the University’s Center for Municipal Finance. You can view the interactive reports and related research of the Property Tax Fairness project here.
In this episode, we discuss what a school must, can, and should do when faced with a report of off-campus sexual assault between community members. We all know that Title IX no longer covers much off-campus conduct, but does that mean schools must, can, and should do nothing in response to a report? We know you won’t be surprised that the answer is no. But understanding the process of how to handle such reports and the potential legal risks can be a challenge. Join us for clarification and to get your questions answered.
In this interactive Q & A episode, Franczek partners Nicki Bazer and Jackie Wernz answer all of your pressing SOPPA questions. As the compliance deadline of July 1 draws near, districts are discovering that there are a lot of gray areas in this new amendment. In this podcast, we navigate you through these tough spots.
Our regular panel of Franczek attorneys, including Jackie Wernz, Shelli Anderson, Jennifer Smith, and Nicki Bazer, is back to discuss end-of-the-year items related to COVID and provide a look forward to the start of the 2021-2022 school year. The panel will discuss the status of testing, vaccines, remote learning, and more and will answer all of your COVID-related questions.
During this episode, Amy Dickerson, Jackie Wernz, and Kendra Yoch discuss Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., recently argued in the US Supreme Court. While the case deals with the First Amendment, not Title IX, it may have implications for how schools deal with off-campus online speech that may be sexual harassment.
In this special episode, Education Law Insights host Kendra Yoch was joined by Jackie Wernz, editor of Franczek's Title IX Insights Blog to discuss the important issue of off-campus student speech.
Following up on our April 22, 2021 discussion with Kenneth Rosen, author of Troubled – The Failed Promise of America’s Behavioral Treatment Programs, we talk with parents’ attorney Micki Moran, and clinical psychologist, Dr. Ruth Kraus, about their perspectives on residential placements for students as well as alternative options to support students with significant social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health concerns. How can schools and families intervene sooner? When, if ever, is residential treatment warranted or helpful? What community-based supports are most effective?
In this episode, join us for a 90-minute facilitated conversation with acclaimed journalist Kenneth R. Rosen, author of Troubled-The Failed Promise of America’s Behavioral Treatment Programs. Rosen’s book tells the stories of four graduates on their own scarred journeys through wilderness and residential treatment programs into adulthood. Based on his own life experiences, three years of reporting, and more than one hundred interviews with other clients, their parents, psychologists, and healthcare professionals, the book takes an in-depth look at the industry of redirecting troubled teens. Rosen’s investigation is an important perspective for educators who are called on to make decisions regarding placement of public school students in the care of facilities in this industry.
What is included in your curriculum? What is left out? Who is telling the story? This episode will focus on curriculum. The content and instructional methods used in classrooms play a critical role in creating an educational environment that welcomes students with different identities and experiences, provides students with historical context for current events, develops critical thinking and collaboration skills, and prepares students to thrive in a multicultural society. The way students are grouped and tracked for learning also has significant implications related to expectations, perceptions, and ultimately achievement. We focus on both the substance of the curriculum and removing barriers to students’ access to higher-level academic coursework. Moderators Amy Dickerson and Kendra Yoch are pleased to be joined by partner Dana Fattore Crumley, as well as Dr. Michael Lubelfeld, Superintendent at North Shore School District 112, and Dr. Nick Polyak, Superintendent at Leyden High School District 212.
Jackie Gharapour Wernz of Title IX Insights was a guest on this episode of the Education Law Insights podcast hosted by Kendra Yoch. Jackie and Kendra discussed the Department of Education's announcement about revamping the Title IX rules that went into effect last year and the Department of Justice's recent pronouncement of the applicability of Title IX to LGBTQ+ students.
As the country gears up for the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament, please join a panel of Franczek attorneys to discuss one of the most interesting legal topics facing the future of higher education: the compensation of student-athletes.
For decades, this topic has been debated in the public court of opinion ranging from students, college and universities, state and federal governments, and the courts. Should student-athletes be compensated based on the revenue they generate for their institutions? And if so how?
In this episode, we discuss recent litigation, proposed legislation, and NCAA and conference regulation that may impact the future of “amateurism” in college sports and the practical implications for colleges and universities because of these potential changes to the student-athlete model.
In the past 10 days, we have seen major new guidance for schools from the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health, guidance from the Illinois Department of Labor on time-off and flexibility for vaccinations, and more. Join your trusted Franczek COVID team for a fast-paced, lively discussion of all the most important news on COVID-19 that school leaders need to know now. Franczek attorneys Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, and Dana Fattore Crumley join moderator Jackie Gharapour Wernz for our weekly update.
Diversity and inclusion goals established within your school district for recruitment, hiring, and retention are keys to improving district diversity and support for all students. In this episode, we discuss the benefits of diversity in the workplace and its impact on student achievement, reducing bias in recruiting and hiring, supporting diverse employees in the workplace, and best practices for navigating the legal issues surrounding these initiatives. We hear from guest speakers Toya Campbell, Chief Human Resource Officer at Evanston Township High School District 202, and Ken Kleber, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Organizational Effectiveness at Champaign Unit School District 4, on their districts’ efforts and experiences in these areas. ISBE Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jennifer Kirmes also joins us to discuss Illinois’ new Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards and how those standards will support district’s equity and inclusion efforts.
Join Title IX leader Jackie Gharapour Wernz as she discusses the most pressing issues facing us at this time. This episode addresses Title IX training now that you have (hopefully!) met the training requirements from the new rules. What additional training is required for your team in 2021? What training should you consider providing even if not required?
Our Franczek COVID school law panelists Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, and Jennifer Smith are joined this week by Gower School District 62 Superintendent Dr. Victor Simon and moderator Jackie Gharapour Wernz to provide a COVID update. In this episode, we discuss how Dr. Simon’s district has navigated a fully in-person learning model this school year, including an on-site diagnostic testing program. We also discuss the impacts of new CDC and Department of Education Guidance and address your questions on all things COVID-19!
While most school administrators are being urged to keep issues of equity at the forefront as they implement their respective roles, many boards have taken the step of creating administrative positions exclusively focused on issues of equity and diversity. During this episode, we discuss the equity administrator role, including training, role responsibilities, and successful equity initiatives, as well as the challenges administrators can face in achieving success. We identify the key legal issues that every equity administrator should know, and hear from guest speakers Dr. Teresa A. Lance, Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Innovation at School District U-46, and Adrian Harries, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Community Unit School District 300.
As school leaders try to steer schools to dry land through the choppy seas of COVID-19, collective bargaining teams are without question pulling a “laboring oar.” In this episode, we focus on labor issues facing schools. Topics covered include reopening issues, injunction actions, accommodations, and more!
In this episode, join Amy Dickerson, Jackie Gharapour Wernz, and Kendra Yoch as they discuss updates to Title IX during the Biden administration
Join our regular COVID school law panel, including Shelli Anderson, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, as well as partner Bill Pokorny to discuss Biden’s first few days in office, including the recently released COVID relief legislation. In this episode, we share a rapid-fire discussion of FFCRA Sick and Child Care Leave, Minimum Wage, OSHA Standards, and more!
From board policies, implicit bias training, and reforming curriculum and instructional practices to ongoing student and community discussions around race, school districts throughout the state are working to address issues of racial equity on a daily basis. In this episode, we focus on the ways school districts are approaching this important work, including the role of boards and administrators in setting leadership goals, programming and initiatives for students and teachers, addressing biases within systems, and the role of the community. Franczek attorneys are joined by guest speakers Dr. Marcus Campbell, Assistant Superintendent and Principal at Evanston Township High School District 202, and Dr. Devon Horton, Superintendent at Evanston/Skokie Community Consolidated School District 65.
In this episode, we answer your questions your questions regarding Title IX, the changes that the Biden administration will make, and the resources that Franczek offers to Title IX administrators.
A new year is upon us! Of course, we are facing many of the same concerns as 2020, particularly with COVID-19. But there is much new to talk about since we last came together. In this episode, our COVID school law panel discusses this week's events and answers your questions.
This episode wraps up our 2020 School Law Conference as we provide you with an update on where things stand with COVID, Schools, and the law. The panel you have come to know and trust will be back to discuss relevant issues and answer your questions.
Our regular panel of Franczek attorneys dedicated this podcast to our clients, friends, and peers. In this episode, we spent the hour answering your questions.
When the Department of Education issued its 2020 Title IX regulations, one of its purported purposes was to end the era of non-regulatory guidance that we saw from OCR under the Obama administration. Yet, since the regulations were issued in May, we have seen a flurry of non-regulatory guidance from OCR. Whether on the OCR blog, through responses to questions to OCR’s OPEN center, or through webinars on YouTube, OCR has provided significant insight into how it will interpret the new regulations. During this episode, we discuss some of these important pieces of non-regulatory guidance and how they may impact K-12 schools.
The panel focuses on how the largest revenue source for school districts has been affected by the events of 2020, as well as provide effective ways for administrators and board members to communicate the impact of these changes to stakeholders and community members. In this episode, topics will include how changes in real estate values affect school district revenue, the latest on the collection and distribution of taxes, important issues and cases to be aware of, economic development incentives, and TIF districts.
During this episode Jackie Wernz answers questions on Title IX Regulations such as what to expect from the Biden administration, whether to record witness interviews, and more!
The editors of Title IX Insights, Jackie Gharapour Wernz and Emily Tulloch, are guests on this episode to talk about how President Elect Joe Biden might unwind Title IX upon taking office.
In this episode we review the lessons learned to date related to providing special education services during remote, hybrid, and in-person learning. We also cover issues related to masks, discipline, compensatory education, requests for in-home services, remote learning plans, evaluations, and more.
An overview of new legislation that school officials need to know about to lead through this extraordinary school year. 2020 has been a remarkable year of legislation including the sweeping legislation to address changes in the educational landscape due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In this episode we also discuss new legislative initiatives that could significantly impact all aspects of the school’s functioning.
In this episode, we discuss actual impact and general bargaining subjects that have arisen since the emergence of COVID-19. As school re-openings continue, it is obvious that many of the issues addressed will carry on until at least the second half of the 2020-2021 school year, and beyond. We also explore common themes emerging at the bargaining table at this time.
Laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment can be used to preserve status quo, but can also act as a driver of educational equity. Whether it’s a school district’s approach to Black Lives Matter, equity considerations in discipline, homeless, and residency disputes, or deciding whether to continue having police in schools, in this episode we discuss how to use the law as a drive for internal reforms supporting equity in public schools.
In this episode, we review the Title IX "Big 5" definitions including Quid Pro Quo, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault.
A presidential election like no other in history, a global pandemic causing an unprecedented economic and emotional toll on our communities, and a remote learning environment where virtual communication reigns, whether in the school setting or through social media. What are the rules to navigate discussion and debate on these issues and others in the public school setting, and how can administrators work within them to model respectful discourse not just for students but for our school communities at large? This episode covers the rights of employees and students to exercise their first amendment rights and respect the rights of others, whether teaching on controversial topics, sponsoring student clubs or publications, or navigating political messages shared by school community members through personal social media.
In this episode, we discuss the most top-of-mind issues and lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis.
School leaders have always served a crucial role in communities, and we can’t imagine anyone managing the Coronavirus crisis without them. In this episode, our regular attorney panelists Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Jennifer Smith, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz, are joined by very special guests Dr. Nick Polyak, Superintendent at Leyden School District 212, and Dr. Michael Lubelfeld, Superintendent at North Shore School District 112. Our panel discusses leadership in the time of COVID-19, including navigating communications with the community, working with teacher unions, and making tough decisions.
Black Lives Matter. The upcoming election. Coronavirus. Masks. First Amendment issues for teachers, students, and the district at large have never felt so critical. In this episode, our regular attorney panelists Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, and Dana Fattore Crumley, discuss freedom of speech in schools.
Schools, colleges, and universities understandably have been scrambling to implement the new sexual harassment rule for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. In addition to that herculean task, educational leaders also have been contending with challenges from COVID-19, reopening plans, racial equity issues, and many other vital concerns. It’s no wonder that you might have missed several essential changes to Title IX that are unrelated to sexual harassment. But school leaders at all levels of education must understand these changes and the resulting impacts they should have on practices in the new school year. In this episode, we discuss all of the hot Title IX issues you may have missed but can’t ignore.
Topics covered include:
- The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR)’s rescission of Title IX guidance documents, including the 2001 Sexual Harassment Guidance and the 2015 resources for Title IX Coordinators,
- OCR’s publication of letters addressing the rights of LGBTQ students under Title IX in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision recognizing rights for LGBTQ employees under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and
- OCR’s recent update to its Case Processing Manual (the CPM).
Many schools have either reopened for in-person instruction of some form or are planning to do so soon. With these changes, we know many school employees will be seeking accommodations, leave, and work-from-home options. In this episode, Franczek P.C. Labor and Employment team co-chair Bill Pokorny joins our regular attorney panelists Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz to discuss employee accommodations and updates to Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
One of the critical and unprecedented challenges to reopening school during Fall 2020—whether in-person, remotely, or using a hybrid model—is providing students with disabilities a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). In this episode, our panel of Franczek special education attorneys Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Kendra Yoch and moderator Jackie Wernz discuss FAPE in Fall 2020 and other special education updates.
In this episode, our panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Jackie Wernz, along with very special guest, PJ Caposey, Superintendent of Meridian CUSD 223, discuss the many lessons learned from back to school. Dr. Caposey provides insights from Meridian 223’s first days using a hybrid model of in-person and remote instruction.
In this episode, our regular panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz welcomed Todd Faulkner to discuss teacher evaluations across various in-person and remote settings during a pandemic.
In this episode, our regular panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz, welcome Carrie Stacy, Director of Special Education at North Palos School District 117, to discuss a chart to help teams navigate decisions about mask medical exemptions for students.
In this episode, our regular panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith discuss a wide variety of employment issues and challenges schools are facing during COVID-19.
In this episode, Franczek partners Nicki Bazer and Jackie Wernz are joined by Sarah Hartwick, Executive Director at ED-RED, and Don Tufano, Director of Technology & Innovation at Riverside School District 96 to discuss SOPPA.
Recent amendments to the Illinois Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA) go into effect on July 1, 2021, but school districts must act now to ensure that they will be in compliance by next year. The new law will require detailed contracts when schools share student data with online service providers. There are many reasons why schools should begin now to work toward compliance. Many school districts will need to get a handle on the agreements that are already in effect—whether at the District level or within the classroom—and necessary audits to understand the extent of a school’s exposure can take time. Multi-year contracts into which schools enter today should meet the law’s requirements.
This episode provides the roadmap you need to help bring your district or school into compliance, including:
- Background on legislative intent and process
- An understanding of the law’s requirements
- How one school district got a handle on SOPPA and what you can learn from it
- Why you need an audit, and how to do it
- The importance of a privacy addendum to SOPPA compliance
- Internal vetting processes for education technology
- And more!
In this episode, our regular panel of Franczek attorneys, including Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and special guest Michael Hernandez, dedicated this episode to our clients, friends, and peers' questions. We know that back to school plans are developing at a dizzying pace. Our attorneys spent the hour addressing your issues.
One of the requirements of the new Title IX regulations–the mandate to post all materials used to train Title IX personnel on a school’s website–has understandably raised questions for K-12 and higher education institutions regarding copyright compliance. In this episode, Jackie Wernz and Ashly Boesche discuss this issue.
In this episode, our regular panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, along with special guest Ares Dalianis, discussed back to school plans and spent the hour addressing questions.
In this episode, Franczek attorneys Dana Fattore Crumley and Jennifer Smith welcome special guests Dr. Ruth Kraus, child psychologist, and Micki Moran, an attorney specializing in representing students in special education matters, to discuss student social and emotional needs as we return to fall instruction.
Administrators and educators are aware that social and emotional habits and skills are closely related to accomplishment and growth. COVID-19 has made social and emotional resilience more important than ever. Join us for a lively panel discussion on this critical issue.
In this episode, we discuss recent joint guidance from ISBE/IDPH on Phase 4 reopening. We know how hard school board members, superintendents, and other administrators and educators are working to make sense of the recommendations and mandates to prepare for a return to in-person instruction in the fall.
Our panel of Franczek attorneys, including Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz, are joined by special guests Dr. Ken Wallace, Superintendent of Maine Township 207, and Dr. Hank Thiele, Superintendent of Downers Grove 99.
Topics covered include:
- Confusion about social distancing vs. face coverings, especially in the classroom
- Challenges of reopening
- Self-certification processes and verification
- Questions about self-quarantine, including when and for how long members of the school community must be excluded and sick leave questions for employees
- And many more!
In this episode, Franczek labor and employment attorneys welcome special guest Toya Campbell, Chief Human Resources Officer at Evanston Township High School. Franczek attorneys Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Dunn, Sally Scott, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz are joined by Ms. Campbell to discuss the continued impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on labor and employment issues facing Illinois schools.
In this episode, Shelli Anderson, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Melissa Kaczkowski of Glen Ellyn School District 41, Dr. Joylynn Pruitt-Adams of Oak Park River Forest High School District, and Dr. Susan Zola of Champaign Community Unit School District 4 to provide the Superintendent perspective on COVID-19 related issues impacting schools in the fall. This panel covers a wide range of issues facing all Illinois schools, from elementary, high school, and unit districts to suburban and urban districts, and includes Chicagoland and downstate perspectives.
In this episode, Franczek attorneys Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Jennifer Dunn, Sally Scott, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz address the differences to the face of education that fall 2020 will bring as they relate to staff. Don’t wait for a genie in a bottle to wish away your fears about the labor and employment impacts of the changes the 2020-2021 school year will bring. Topics covered include impacts of continued remote learning and staggered schedules on staffing, including reductions in force; teacher evaluations; employee salaries and stipends; temperatures and testing; and many others.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken a toll on the federal, state, and local economies and threatens to impair values in the real estate market. Local property taxes are the life blood of school district revenues. How property is assessed is crucial to the local tax base, and how taxes are collected is vital to the ability to fund educational services. In this episode, Ares Dalianis, Michael Hernandez, and Scott Metcalf discuss the property tax and school revenue issues facing Illinois school districts by addressing the following:
- State and Federal Funding
- Property Tax Collections
- Expectations for 2020 Assessments
- Assessment Trends
- Real Estate Market Overview
- Economic Development Incentives
In this episode, Franczek attorneys Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz with special guest Mina Griffith, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services at Plainfield School District 202, discuss the differences to the face of education that fall 2020 will bring. We have always had some “spaced out” students, but ongoing social distancing will give a new meaning to that phrase. We address numerous issues including staggered schedules, the continuation of remote learning, student data privacy and acceptable use of technology, discipline, student attendance monitoring, social-emotional learning (SEL) needs during the COVID-19 era, and many more.
We may not know when society will open back up, but we can be relatively sure that when schools open again—hopefully, this fall—they will look different than in years past. In this episode, we address the differences as they relate to the school physical plant. Whether schools educate students in staggered schedules or all at once with more focus on social distancing, school leaders must begin to think now about how to creatively address space expectations and other physical plant concerns to address whatever school may be next year. This episode focuses on all the makeovers your school facilities need to seamlessly move into the new school year. Franczek attorneys Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz are joined by special guest Steve Wright from DLA Architects, Ltd.
The summer is a great time to check items off your to do list, and this summer will be no different. But your list of priorities for summer 2020 will be very different than in past years as a result of COVID-19. Topics covered will include negotiating the process for appeal of unsatisfactory ratings, check-ins with reluctant e-learners, preparing to resume public board meetings and in-school learning, considerations about the length of the school year, technology and infrastructure concerns, parent engagement and training, and RIFs of support staff, among others. After this episode, you will have a checklist to keep you on track as you prepare for the 2020-2021 school year this summer.
After almost one-and-a-half years, the U.S. Department of Education has issued final Title IX regulations. In this episode, Amy Dickerson, Emily Tulloch, and Jackie Wernz discuss the change that are now in effect as well as important differences between the proposed and final rules.
The school year is coming to an end. School leaders must grapple with a number of legal issues to shepherd the school year to a satisfactory close in the COVID-19 era. From grades to graduation requirements and ceremonies, locker cleanouts to technology returns, and building cleaning to human resources issues, this episode will provide a roadmap for school leaders on the legal issues to keep in mind in closing out the school year.
In this episode, special guest Jim Franczek, firm founder and President, provides unparalleled insight into the efforts of State and Chicago leadership in addressing critical education issues facing Illinois during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis. Jim is joined by Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, with host Jackie Gharapour Wernz.
Topics addressed will include:
- Critical issues for school board members in the COVID-19 era, including those related to structuring remote and in-person learning in the COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 eras.
- Essential updates for school leaders and administrators on the evolution of legal issues impacting board governance, school business concerns, school personnel issues, and student issues, including special education and discipline.
- Answers to YOUR questions!
In this episode, we continue to address the issues impacting our schools during the coronavirus pandemic. The panel includes Franczek partners Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, with host Jackie Gharapour Wernz and special guest Kendra Yoch. As these critical issues are ever-changing, we hope these timely updates are of use to you and your colleagues.
In this episode, we continue to address the issues impacting our schools during the coronavirus pandemic. The panel includes Franczek partners Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, with host Jackie Gharapour Wernz and special guest Ares Dalianis. As these critical issues are ever-changing, we hope these timely updates are of use to you and your colleagues.
In this episode, we continue to address the issues impacting our schools during the coronavirus pandemic. The panel includes Franczek partners Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, with host Jackie Gharapour Wernz. As these critical issues are ever-changing, we hope these timely updates are of use to you and your colleagues.
In this episode, Kendra Yoch and Dana Fattore Crumley discuss special education issues during remote learning.
In this episode, a panel of attorneys from Chapman and Cutler and Franczek P.C. present an in-depth discussion of school finance and property tax issues facing Illinois school districts as they respond to the economic disruption and societal change brought on by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The presenters include Erin Bartholomy from Chapman and Ares Dalianis and Scott Metcalf from Franczek.
Topics include:
- Short Term Borrowing
- Interfund Transfers and Loans
- State and Federal Funding
- COVID-19 and Property Tax Assessments
- Tax Payments and Delinquency
In this episode, Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Brian Crowley, Dana Fattore Crumley, Jennifer Smith, and Jackie Gharapour Wernz address many issues that have arisen related to the recently released orders, declarations, guidance, statements, and recommendations for K-12 public schools from the Governor and ISBE. As these critical issues are ever-changing, we hope these timely updates are of use to you and your colleagues.
In this episode our panel, including Franczek partners Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Jennifer Smith, with host Jackie Gharapour Wernz, will discuss a wide range of issues facing schools in Illinois as they respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Topics include ISBE updates, employment considerations, and special education issues.
Listen to a panel of attorneys from the K-12 Education Law Practice Group at Franczek P.C. for a fast-paced discussion of the most pressing questions facing Illinois schools as they respond to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The panel includes Shelli Anderson, Nicki Bazer, and Jennifer Smith and will be moderated by Jackie Gharapour Wernz.
Examples of issues discussed will include:
- Employment issues such as paying staff and working with unions during Act of God days, handling existing leaves and the potential impact of the pending Families First Coronavirus Response Act and what happens after March 30
- Special education issues such as how to count days for special education timelines and what the provision of FAPE looks like during the mandatory school closure
- Open Meetings Act questions such as what, if any, meetings can or should be held in person after the Governor’s recent Executive Order loosening in-person meeting requirements for board members, and
- Key confidentiality issues facing schools when communicating about COVID confirmations.
In this episode, Kendra Yoch, Dana Fattore Crumley, and Shelli Anderson discuss FAQs schools are facing regarding coronavirus disease 2019.
In this episode, Brianne Dunn and Melissa Sobota discuss Illinois legislation weakening the Supreme Court's Janus decision.
In this episode, Jackie Wernz and Kendra Yoch discuss the U.S. Department of Education's "new, proactive” civil rights compliance center within its Office for Civil Rights.
Issues involving religion and schools are making headlines across the country, both in the K-12 and higher education realm. In this episode, Jackie Gharapour Wernz and Brianne Dunn highlight the issues all school leaders should know now. Topics addressed include: * The Trump administration’s executive order on anti-Semitism in schools, colleges, and universities * Recent guidance on prayer in K-12 schools * Proposed rules addressing faith-based institutions and treatment of religious student groups in colleges and universities * The pending U.S. Supreme Court case addressing federal aid to religious schools * And more!
In this episode, Jackie Wernz presents on the latest trends and key issues for school administrators to keep in mind to best maintain the privacy of student data and records.
In this episode, Amy Dickerson and Jennifer Smith address legal considerations for navigating student mental health issues.
In this episode, we cover legal basics that all school board members should know. Whether you are a new school board member or a veteran board president, this episode will include helpful information for you. Join us for this practical discussion led by Franczek partners Nicki Bazer and Amy Dickerson.
In this episode, Jennifer Smith and Emily Tulloch discuss legal requirements and best practices for navigating common issues that arise when students have medical needs at school, including an overview of rules and practical guidance for the administration and storage of undesignated medication and related to medical cannabis and the Seizure Safe School Act.
In this episode, Amy Dickerson is joined by Julie Shellberg from Partnership for Resilience to discuss trauma-responsive schools. We will examine the applicable laws addressing trauma-informed responses in schools and provide examples and best practices from Partnership for Resilience for building a trauma-sensitive school system.
In this episode, Amy Dickerson, Jackie Wernz, and Kendra Yoch go beyond the basics to provide insight into the current state of residency and homeless issues. Relying on our collective decades of experience advising schools on day-to-day residency and homeless issues, we will provide information valuable to a wide range of school leaders and staff. Join us as we cover investigations, dispute hearings, and the rights of homeless students, among other topics. Whether you are on the front lines of residency and homeless issues or an upper level administrator or board member looking to refresh your knowledge of this important area of law, this podcast will have something for you.
In this episode, Amy Dickerson and Kendra Yoch discuss the legal requirements and best practices for navigating the often challenging issues related to homebound and hospital instruction.
In this episode, Jackie Wernz and Emily Tulloch provide an update on Title IX and employment issues. Many of the most high-profile Title IX cases involve allegations of student-on-student sexual misconduct, but some of the more complicated cases arise when a student accuses an employee of sexual misconduct. Employment law issues that arise in such cases are unique and require careful analysis to avoid common and sometimes costly pitfalls. Jackie and Emily will address some of the most common employment issues that arise in Title IX complaints, including the intersection of Title IX and employment policies and agreements, interaction between departments handling student and employee complaints, unique retaliation issues and communication/privacy concerns when an employee is the accused, and challenges in reintegrating parties into the educational system following a complaint.
In this episode, we address recent changes to the rules governing the use of time out and physical restraint in Illinois schools. Your hosts Jennifer Smith and Kendra Yoch provide key insights and practical guidance on the Illinois State Board of Education’s emergency rules.
In this episode, Bill Pokorny and Brianne Dunn are joined by Jerry Anderson, Principal at Homewood Flossmoor CHSD 233. Jerry provides a unique insight into this topic as she previously served as principal for a Colorado school district when the state first legalized marijuana.