
FAQ: School Districts and the Coronavirus Vaccine
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJanuary 13, 2021
As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, Ohio school districts will need to decide whether to implement mandatory immunization requirements for employees. Governor DeWine has prioritized school staff to begin receiving…

Coronavirus Relief Bill Signed Into Law
Coronavirus, Education, Education, Employers, Labor & Employment ServicesDecember 29, 2020
On December 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 into law, which provides $900 billion in coronavirus relief and $1.4 trillion to fund the government. Below is a summary of the bill’s…

Amended House Bill 404: Open Meetings, Local CARES Act Redistribution, License Deadlines and More
Coronavirus, Education, EducationNovember 23, 2020
When House Bill (“HB”) 197 went into effect last spring, during the initial phase of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic, it provided relief to Ohio school districts in many important areas of school functions. …

House Bill 404 Extends Temporary Virtual Meeting Authority
Coronavirus, Education, EducationNovember 19, 2020
With today’s passage of Ohio House Bill (“HB”) 404, the legislature officially has extended the effectiveness of the HB 197 provisions granting authority to public bodies to hold and attend meetings and conduct and…

Federal District Court Dismisses Class Action Against All U.S. School Districts
Coronavirus, Education, EducationNovember 18, 2020
A New York federal district court recently dismissed a class action lawsuit alleging every school district in the country conspired to deny services to special education students during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court…

Ohio Legislature Passes Bill Extending Qualified Civil Immunity for COVID-Related Claims
Coronavirus, Education, EducationSeptember 15, 2020
On September 14, 2020, Governor DeWine signed Ohio Amended Substitute House Bill 606 (“H.B. 606”) affirming the Ohio Legislature’s extension of qualified civil immunity for COVID-19-related claims. H.B. 606 specifically…

Ohio Department of Health Director Signs K-12 COVID-19 Reporting and Notification Order
Coronavirus, Education, Education
September 4, 2020
The Director of the Ohio Department of Health ("ODH") issued an order on September 3, 2020 requiring reporting and notification regarding COVID-19 cases in K-12 schools (the “Order”). The Order requires all K-12…

Ohio Department of Health Releases Order Allowing Sports to Move Forward with Stipulations
Coronavirus, Education, EducationAugust 21, 2020
On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine announced that all sports (both contact and non-contact) would be permitted to move forward this fall. The Order, issued by the Interim Director of the Ohio Department of…

Ohio Department of Health Releases Use of Face Shield Guidance
Coronavirus, Education, EducationAugust 17, 2020
The Ohio Department of Health (“ODH”) posted guidance to its website addressing the use of face shields including use in schools. In the ODH Face Shields FAQ, ODH addresses the use of face shields in lieu of masks or…

Ohio School Mask Orders Update
Coronavirus, Education, Education8/14/2020
On August 13, 2020, the Interim Director of the Ohio Department of Health (the “Director”) issued an order requiring use of facial coverings in K-12 schools (“Order”). The Order, which became effective on Friday, August…

Ohio Department of Health Extends Contact Sports Order, Clarifies Definition of Contact Sports
Coronavirus, Education, EducationAugust 4, 2020
On August 1, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) issued a third Order related to contact sports, which extends the expiration date of its second amended Order. Notably, unlike previous orders that had a set expiration…

School Districts: The Deadline to File a Proof of Claim in Purdue Pharma’s Bankruptcy Action is Approaching
EducationPublic school districts nationwide have until July 30, 2020 to file a proof of claim in the bankruptcy proceeding of Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, for its alleged role in the opioid epidemic. Submitting a claim may allow school…

Student Attendance During Remote Learning for the 2020-2021 School Year
Coronavirus, Education, Education
July 17, 2020
To assist school districts in developing remote learning plans for the 2020-2021 school year, the Ohio Department of Education recently released guidance addressing student attendance during remote learning activities.
At…

ODE Proposes Rule Changes and Calls for Comments
Education
The Ohio Department of Education has posted a variety of proposed changes to the Operating Standards, and is soliciting comments on those proposed changes through July 31, 2020. While everyone’s focus is understandably the safe reopening…

Ohio Releases New Order for Contact & Non-Contact Sports and Competitions
Coronavirus, Education, Education, Walter | Haverfield LLPUpdated: July 23, 2020
*On July 22, 2020, the Ohio Dept. of Health issued a second Order extending the expiration date of the Order below to July 31, 2020. The second Order can be found here.
On July 7, 2020, just over three weeks after…

New Re-Open & Re-Start Guidance for the 2020-2021 School Year
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJuly 6, 2020
On July 2, 2020, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released new guidance regarding the re-opening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year. This guidance, which is titled “COVID-19…

Ohio Department of Education Extends Eligibility Under Developmental Delay for Students Transitioning from Preschool to Kindergarten
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJune 30, 2020
On June 30, 2020, the Ohio Department of Education announced that preschool students with disabilities who were identified under the category of “developmental delay” for the 2019-2020 school year will be able to transition…

New State and Federal Guidance for Special Education Related to COVID-19 Closures
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJune 30, 2020
ODE Guidance
On June 29, 2020, the Ohio Department of Education issued “COVID-19 Guidance: Data Reporting for Students with Disabilities FAQ.” The guidance addresses EMIS reporting for noncompliance events that occurred…

Ohio H.B. 164 Provides School Districts Some Relief from Anticipated 2020-2021 Third Grade Reading Guarantee Impact
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJune 22, 2020
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 164 (H.B. 164) on Friday, June 19, 2020, also known as the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2019. In light of the coronavirus pandemic, H.B. 164 goes beyond its religious…

Ohio H.B. 164: Emergency Legislation for the Reopening of Schools
Coronavirus, Education, Education, Walter | Haverfield LLPUpdated July 8, 2020
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 164 (H.B. 164) on Friday, June 19, 2020, also known as the Ohio Student Religious Liberties Act of 2019. The bill allows public school students to pray, attend religious…

Contact Practices for Sports and Non-Contact Competitions Can Start – Are You Ready?
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJune 19, 2020
Governor DeWine announced that on June 22, 2020, contact practice for all sports activities and non-contact sport competitions can resume. As with other reopening announcements, it comes with an order containing mandates and…

New Guidance for Early Intervention to Preschool Transition
Coronavirus, Education, Education, Walter | Haverfield LLPJune 18, 2020
Several Ohio agencies are providing guidance regarding serving children with disabilities who are transitioning from Part C Early Intervention to Part B special education preschool services. The guidance, developed by the…

Questions Arise with the Reopening of Ohio Sports and Training Facilities
Coronavirus, Education, EducationJune 1, 2020
The Ohio Department of Health Director has authorized school districts to reopen their doors to skills training and non-contact sports. The Order provides detailed requirements and restrictions as well as guidance specifically…

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in Schools: New Title IX Regulations Issued by U.S. Department of Education
EducationMay 7, 2020
On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released the new Regulations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). These highly anticipated Regulations, which have been pending under a series of public…

Don’t Forget About ADA Accessibility When Planning Virtual Graduation Ceremonies
Coronavirus, Education, Education, Walter | Haverfield LLPMay 5, 2020
School-building closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have Ohio districts preparing for a very different kind of student graduation this year. The Ohio Department of Education is urging all school districts to utilize alternative…

U.S. Department of Education Approves Funding for Continued Learning During Pandemic
Coronavirus, Education, EducationApril 10, 2020
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has authorized flexible funding to states to better serve the needs of students and educators throughout the COVID-19 crisis. The new flexibilities, introduced under the Coronavirus Aid,…

ODE Clarifies Teacher Evaluation Questions, But Complicated Decisions Remain
Coronavirus, Education, EducationApril 9, 2020
House Bill 197, which was meant to provide clarity to school districts on a range of issues due to school-building closures from the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in more questions than answers. Specifically, those questions…

Updated Ohio Department of Education Guidance Regarding Students with Disabilities During the State’s School-Building Closure
Coronavirus, Education, Education, Walter | Haverfield LLPMarch 30, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the Ohio Department of Education issued updated guidance clarifying its previously issued guidance document of March 18, 2020 entitled “Considerations for Students with Disabilities during Ohio’s Ordered…

What’s Included in Ohio’s COVID-19 Response Law
Coronavirus, Education, EducationOn March 27, 2020, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed into law emergency legislation that addresses the urgent needs of the State due to the COVID-19 pandemic. H.B. 197 goes into effect immediately. The new law addresses a wide range of issues,…

Ohio’s “Stay At Home” Order and Its Impact on Schools
Coronavirus, Education, Education March 25, 2020
Currently, Ohio is under a “Stay At Home” Order, which is effective March 23, 2020 through April 6, 2020. The Order, issued by Ohio Department of Health Director, Dr. Amy Acton, requires all individuals currently living…

Interpreting the Ohio Department of Education’s Guidance Regarding Students with Disabilities During the State’s School-Building Closure
Coronavirus, Education, Education
March 23, 2020
On March 18, 2020, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) issued guidance entitled Consideration for Students with Disabilities during Ohio’s Ordered School-Building Closure. The…

Students with Disabilities and Team Considerations During the COVID-19 Crisis
Coronavirus, Education, Education
March 19, 2020
As we all continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of the COVID-19 crisis and review the various guidance documents from federal, state, and local officials, several guiding principles have begun to emerge in relation…

Yost Revisits OMA Recommendations, Allows for Electronic Participation at Board Meetings
Coronavirus, Education, Education
March 16, 2020
On Friday, March 13, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (Yost) released a letter to local officials regarding the applicability of Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his letter, Yost stated…

Ohio Department of Education Issues COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Document for Ohio School Districts
Coronavirus, Education, EducationMarch 16, 2020
On March 14, 2020, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) issued a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document designed to “help school and district leaders think through important local-level decisions.” The FAQ document…

COVID-19 and District Obligations to Students with Disabilities
Coronavirus, Education, Education
March 13, 2020
In a press conference on March 12th, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine directed that, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), all elementary and secondary schools, including public, private, and charter schools,…

COVID-19: How the Virus Impacts School District Obligations
Coronavirus, Education, Education
March 12, 2020
Ohio’s Open Meetings Act and COVID-19
With many questions circulating regarding the application of Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) in light of Governor Mike DeWine’s recent guidance on COVID-19 and mass gatherings,…

Reminder: The March 31st Deadline for Filing Property Tax Complaints Is Quickly Approaching
EducationAlthough the economy has improved, money remains tight for school districts. While all school districts vigilantly guard their revenue, not all districts are engaged in protecting their tax base through property tax complaints. Getting involved…

COVID-19: What Ohio Schools Need to Know and Do
Coronavirus, Education, Education
March 10, 2020
COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, (a new respiratory virus strain), is spreading rapidly. In the span of just a few short months, the virus has spread around the globe to our doorstep here in Ohio. On March 9, 2020,…

Careful, Texts on Personal Cell Phones About Employees Can Be Public Records
Education, Labor & Employment Law - Education, Labor & Employment Services, Public LawThe Ohio Court of Claims has confirmed that text messages between public officials using personal devices can be public records. Although the question has previously been open to interpretation, this decision clarifies the answer and serves…

Ohio School Truancy: Excessive Absences No Longer Include Medically Excused Absences
EducationBeginning October 17, 2019, a student’s medically excused absences are no longer included in Ohio school districts’ calculations toward “excessive absences” under Ohio truancy laws.
Since 2017, Ohio school districts have been required…

Department of Labor: Employees Can Use FMLA to Attend IEP Meetings
Education, Labor & Employment Law - EducationOn August 8, 2019, the Department of Labor released an opinion clarifying that attending an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting constitutes a reason for intermittent leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Under the…

CBD Oil Now Legal in Ohio
Cannabis Law, Education
On July 30, 2019, Governor Mike DeWine signed Ohio Senate Bill (SB) 57 legalizing the possession, purchase or sale of hemp and hemp products. The bill included an emergency provision making it effective immediately, which means that school…

Ohio’s New Budget Means Changes for the State’s School Districts
Education
Ohio’s two-year state budget calls for funding for new support services outside Ohio’s public school classrooms, changes how money is spent on low-performing school districts and places new graduation requirements on the class of 2023.…

Images Captured by School Resource Officers’ Body Cameras Now Exempt from Public Records Response
Education, Sunshine Law & Public Records Ohio House Bill 425, which took effect April 2019, exempts images of students captured on a resource officer’s body camera from disclosure in response to a public records request.
Some Peace Officers – including School Resource Officers…

Walter | Haverfield Expands Columbus Office, Grows its Education Team
Education, General Counsel Services - Education, Labor & Employment Law - Education, Student Issues, Sunshine Law & Public Records, Walter | Haverfield LLP
As one of the few full-service law firms in Ohio with a dedicated education law practice, Walter | Haverfield is proudly adding two new attorneys to its team in the firm’s Columbus office. Both attorneys will serve an increasing client…

State Bans Vape Pens on School Buses and Calls for Drivers to Wait at Bus Stops
EducationThe Ohio Board of Education recently adopted changes to rules for students who ride in school transportation vehicles (O.A.C. 3301-83-08) and established clearer policies for bus drivers (O.A.C. 3301-83-13). These changes will go into effect…

Supreme Court Declines to Review Transgender Restroom Policy of Pennsylvania School
EducationOn May 28, 2019, the United States Supreme Court declined to review a Pennsylvania school district’s policy allowing transgender students to use locker rooms and restrooms based on their gender identity. The Court declined this case without…

Potential Consequences for Alternate Assessment Noncompliance
EducationThe U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has recently outlined parameters to enforce a key limit of one form of alternate testing for students with disabilities. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) and the Every…

Tip of the week: Keep these things in mind when drafting a school bus surveillance video policy
EducationIn an article published by Special Ed Connection, Peter Zawadski offers advice about video surveillance cameras on school buses.
Student records. FERPA. State law. These are just some of the things to keep in mind when developing a policy for…

Document IEP Accommodations and Modifications to Avoid State Violations
EducationAs the year draws to a close, many special education teams conduct their annual reviews and Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings in April and May. Teams should keep in mind that IEP accommodations and modifications should be documented…

Best Practices in Planning for Extended School Year Services
EducationAs the snow melts and the trees begin to blossom, our thoughts turn naturally to spring and even summer. But if you’re a special education administrator or intervention specialist, your pre-summer list is probably a mile long, even as early…

First FDA-Approved Cannabidiol Medication Creates Confusion for School Districts
EducationAs Ohio medical marijuana dispensaries begin to open, a new medication with marijuana plant derivatives, Epidiolex, is causing some confusion for Ohio school districts. Epidiolex is a cannabidiol oral solution medication for the treatment of…

House Bill 491: A Treasure Trove of Legal Changes Affecting Ohio School Treasurers
EducationThe Ohio General Assembly recently enacted House Bill 491, which contains significant legal changes affecting school treasurer and superintendent liability. Traditionally, public officials have been strictly and individually liable for the loss…

School Districts: Protect Your Tax Base
EducationThe steady uptick in the economy means property values are on the rise. While this translates to more money in a school district’s coffers, it also means residents and commercial property owners are preparing their offensives to ensure their…

Medical Marijuana Impacts California Elementary School
EducationRuling could foretell issues to come in Ohio and the rest of the country
While questions remain about student use of medical marijuana in Ohio schools, a California administrative law judge (ALJ) ruled that a kindergartner be allowed to bring…

Non-teaching employees can coach too, right? The legal implications of hiring non-teaching personnel
Education
The school year is officially underway! With this new school year comes not only the work of educating students, but also, the after-school work of coaching and teaching students in extracurricular sports, clubs and activities. School…

Ohio School Districts: Don’t Dabble in CBD Oil
EducationThe advent of legalized medical marijuana in Ohio has prompted parents to request that school districts administer cannabidiol (CBD) oil to their children during the school day. CBD is currently used as a homeopathic alternative to prescription…

Walter | Haverfield Attorney Named Workers’ Compensation Specialist
EducationThe Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) has certified Walter | Haverfield attorney Margaret O’Bryon as a specialist in workers’ compensation law. O’Bryon is the only Ohio attorney to have received such certification in 2018.
The OSBA…

New Ohio Law Changes Student Discipline Procedures and School Resource Officer Requirements
EducationOn Friday, November 2, 2018, HB 318 goes into effect, which implements new school discipline procedures for students. It also mandates particular qualifications and specialized training requirements for school resource officers (SRO).
Changes…

New Ohio Law Requires Professionals to Report Suspected Elder Abuse
EducationOhio recently passed a law that requires a wide range of professionals who interact with impaired seniors to immediately report suspected cases of neglect, abuse or exploitation. Those professionals include health care workers, attorneys and…

Confusion over CBD oil use in Ohio reaches school districts
EducationWalter | Haverfield education attorney Peter Zawadski cautions Ohio school districts against administering CBD oil to students in an interview with Cleveland’s ABC affiliate (WEWS-TV).

A Conversation with…
EducationWalter | Haverfield partner Craig Marvinney shared his thoughts on how to grow a legal practice in the Defense Research Institute’s “A Conversation with…” podcast.

Is someone listening? What districts can do about a student monitoring device
Education
Safety-oriented assistive technology for children with special needs has proliferated in recent years. One of the more recent devices is called AngelSense. The name sounds innocuous, but its potential misuse is raising concerns for school…

Ohio Attorney General: Courts Should Decide Who Pays Education Costs
Education
The Ohio Attorney General’s office (AG) has issued an opinion regarding the obligations of education costs for students placed in out-of-state residential facilities. And while the opinion is not controlling on the courts, they may refer…

Appeals Court Rules Against Public School District in Special Education Case
EducationIn a recent surprise ruling, the Sixth Circuit held that a school district’s failure to mainstream a student with Down Syndrome violated special education law, entitling his parents to tuition reimbursement.
Although their son was considerably…

Changes to Ohio Teacher Evaluation System
EducationSenate Bill 216, recently signed into law, requires the Ohio Department of Education to revise the current framework for teacher and administrator evaluations, adopting a new version by May 2020. The revised framework will:
Be subject…

Post-Parkland protests pose array of legal questions
Education
Walter | Haverfield attorney James McWeeney says that post-Parkland school protests present complicated legal questions that districts must be prepared to handle. McWeeney’s article appeared in the Ohio School Boards Association Jour…

What the Courts Say About Recording in the Classroom
Education
Walter | Haverfield’s Christina Peer and Peter Zawadski are advising school districts to review their policies following a recent federal court decision on the use of recording devices in classrooms. Read more here on the Best…

What the Courts Say About Recording in the Classroom
EducationWalter | Haverfield’s Christina Peer and Peter Zawadski are advising school districts to review their policies following a recent federal court decision on the use of recording devices in classrooms. Read more here on the Best Lawyers…

Federal program to offer webinars on website accessibility
Education
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched an initiative to make more websites and online programs accessible for individuals with disabilities. OCR will offer technical assistance and design…

Federal Court Limits Student’s Use of a Recording Device in the Classroom
Education
With the prevalence of smartphones and social media, school districts are growing increasingly wary over the ability of students to record what happens in school. And some courts are sharing that same concern, as demonstrated in a recent…

Responding to parent requests for video footage in light of federal student privacy laws
Education, Student Issues
The Family Policy Compliance Office (“FPCO”) now offers school districts a tentative framework for responding to parents’ requests for videos. Often such footage – a security video of a cafeteria fight, for example…

Responding to parent requests for video footage in light of federal student privacy laws
Education, Student IssuesThe Family Policy Compliance Office (“FPCO”) now offers school districts a tentative framework for responding to parents’ requests for videos. Often such footage – a security video of a cafeteria fight, for example – includes images…

Protests Post-Parkland: The legal ramifications of the rising tide of school protests
Education
Tragedy. Loss. Sorrow. Debate. Passion. Protest.
The devastating school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida has spawned national (and often contentious) debates across the country. Students,…

Practicing law in the time of #MeToo
Education
Walter | Haverfield education law partner Christina Peer told Crain’s Cleveland Business how the #MeToo movement is sparking more local school districts to request harassment training.

#MeToo 101: What districts need to know about the #MeToo movement in schools
Education, Student IssuesThe #MeToo movement has exposed rampant sexual harassment across the country in a wide range of industries. Yet, we've heard little about the movement in our schools, until recently.
While often underreported, statistics of student-to-student…

Profiles: Miriam Pearlmutter / Walter Haverfield LLP
Education
Fueled by her love of podcasts and her passion for education law, Walter | Haverfield attorney Miriam Pearlmutter started her own podcast for school administrators and teachers. Her colleague, Lisa Woloszynek joined in as her…

The pendulum swing for personal liability in IDEA violation lawsuits
Education
In an about-face move, a federal court took a surprise stance in a recent education case (Crofts v. Issaquah School District), which may put teachers and administrators across the country at a disadvantage and give parents…

Decoding Ohio's New Truancy Law for Students with Disabilities
Education, Special Education Law
When Ohio updated its truancy law in 2017, the move required schools to emphasize prevention over punishment. Lawmakers shifted the focus from court proceedings to intervention strategies in schools, hoping students will return…

Ohio History Connection Releases New Record Retention Schedule for Schools
Education
The Ohio History Connection (previously the Ohio Historical Society) has just released an updated suggested record retention schedule for school districts. The template for this schedule can be accessed here.
School districts…

Ohio’s Anti-Hazing Law: A Call to Action for School Districts
Education, Student Issues
It was the night of February 2, 2017 - a night that ended in tragedy for Tim Piazza. And it all started with alcohol at a Pennsylvania State University fraternity where Piazza was a pledge. Two days later, after prosecutors…

Religion in the classroom
Education, Student Issues
In an article published by the Ohio School Boards Association, in its October 2017 issue of School Management News, Miriam Pearlmutter asserted that school districts attempting to resolve religious conflicts should consider…

Office for Civil Rights Rescinds Previous Guidance on Sexual Violence Investigations
Education, Student Issues
In another controversial move, the Office for Civil Rights ("OCR") rescinded its previous guidance on sexual violence investigations.
In 2011, OCR issued a "Dear Colleague" letter, requiring universities and school districts…

Special Education Legal Update: Session One
Education, Special Education LawOn September 18, 2017, Christina Henagen Peer and members of Walter | Haverfield's Education Law Section will be speaking at the "Special Education Legal Update: Session One" (program presented by Walter | Haverfield LLP, in partnership with…

U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights Issues Instructions Regarding Complaints Involving Transgender Students
Education, Student IssuesOn June 6, 2017, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Candice Jackson, issued instructions to the directors of the regional offices of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) regarding complaints involving transgender…

Evolving educational law calls for counsel
Education, Student IssuesIn an article written by Douglas J. Guth and published online by Crain's Cleveland Business on July 22, 2017, Christina H. Peer described Walter | Haverfield's role in assisting school districts as they attempt to serve special needs studen…

Ohio Legislature Alters Law on Truancy and Student Discipline
Education, Student IssuesBy Christine T. Cossler and Christina H. Peer.andnbsp;
The
Ohio Legislature passed House Bill 410 (H.B. 410) last December after
considering the legislation for over a year. The bill became law on
April 6, 2017. As of April 6, school districts…

New "Class Act: Updates in Education Law" Podcast to Help School Districts Manage Emerging, Challenging Issues
Education, Student IssuesEducational podcast provides insights on latest court cases and helps
guide school superintendents and administrators through quickly
changing regulatory landscape
To help school districts stay abreast of the latest court decisions and agency…

Episode Four: Religion and Schools: Part One
Education, Student IssuesIn this episode, Miriam and Lisa tackle a sometimes-thorny issue: students' religious rights and how the First Amendment sometimes collides with school policies and practice. Learn about the law and enjoy a plethora of fascinating cases from…

Episode Three: Transgender Issues in Public Schools
Education, Student IssuesClass Act: Updates in Education Law tackles a fascinating and controversial topic: What does the federal government require of school districts serving transgender students and how did we get here? Lisa and Miriam summarize recent regulations…

Episode Two: Pending Before the Court, Part Two
Education, Student IssuesIn the second part of our Supreme Court term preview, we explore Endrew F. v. Douglas County Schools, a case that addresses the most fundamental question in special education today: What level of education does a school district have to provide…

Episode One: Pending Before the Court, Part One
Education, Student IssuesIn our inaugural episode we talk about Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, an education law case pending before the Supreme Court this term. What is the difference between IDEA and Section 504? What remedies are available to parents under these…

United States Supreme Court Creates New Standard for Provision of a Free Appropriate Public Education
Education, Student IssuesOn March 22, 2017, the United States Supreme Court, in the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1, created a new standard for determining whether a student with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education…

Supreme Court Allows Parents to Avoid IDEIA Administrative Process for Section 504 Claims
Education, Student IssuesIn last week's high-profile decision, the Supreme Court permitted parents to skip the due process complaint procedures if their claims relate primarily to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504"), rather than the Individuals…

Trump Administration Withdraws Transgender Guidance
Education, Student IssuesThe Trump Administration made a significant move Wednesday night in the national debate regarding transgender students' rights by withdrawing previously issued guidance from the United States Department of Education ("DOE") and Department of…

Expectations of the EEOC, OCRC and OCR
EducationOn February 2, 2017, Peter T. Zawadski spoke at a Compliance Officer Training program, organized by the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. The topic of Peter's presentation, which was given in Columbus, Ohio, was, "Expectations of…

School Sports Law: Hot Legal Topics Involving School Athletics
Education, Sports LawOn January 17, 2017, Peter T. Zawadski spoke at the Legal Update Series, which took place at the Summit County Educational Service Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The topic of Peter’s presentation was, "School Sports Law: Hot Legal Topics…

NE Ohio Legal Updates Network
EducationOn March 28, 2017, Christina Henagen Peer will give a presentation to the Northeast Ohio Legal Updates Network at the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, in Independence, Ohio.

Compliant Data Collection and ESY Determination and Surviving ODE Audit Legal Update
EducationOn March 16, 2017, Kathryn I. Perrico and Christina Henagen Peer
will provide a Compliant Data Collection and ESY Determination and
Surviving ODE Audit Legal Update at the Summit County Educational
Service Center, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio…

Special Education Legal Update Seminar
Education, Special Education LawOn March 13, 2017, Christina Henagen Peer will be speaking at the Special Education Legal Update Seminar, at the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, in Independence, Ohio.