Posted in: Education

Ohio Dyslexia Guidebook Approved: School District Dyslexia Obligations Near

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May 16, 2022 As the current school year comes to a close, Ohio’s State Board of Education has approved the Ohio Dyslexia Committee’s Ohio Dyslexia Guidebook. This guidebook stems from the requirements in House Bill 436. Initial school…

Commercial Property Owners Get Relief at the Expense of School Districts

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April 21, 2022  Since 1976, Ohio law has allowed school districts to file complaints with county boards of revision when they believe properties are undervalued. The law also gave school districts meaningful opportunities to contest attempts…

U.S. Supreme Court Decision: Board’s Verbal Censure Does Not Violate First Amendment

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March 29, 2022 In Houston Community College v. Wilson, a unanimous Supreme Court held on March 24, 2022 that no First Amendment rights are abridged when a board verbally censures one of its own members. Wilson, an elected member of a community…

Ohio Department of Health Updates Covid Reporting Expectations

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March 12, 2022 On March 10, 2022, the Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) officially took action to rescind the September 3, 2020 Director’s Order Requiring Reporting and Notification Regarding Covid-19 Cases in  K-12 Schools…

New Contact Tracing Implications for School Districts

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January 27, 2022  On January 26, 2022, the Ohio Department of Health issued a memo to local health departments and school superintendents on new requirements, effective immediately, for contact tracing and case investigation relating…

New Ohio Law Fosters Much Needed Educational Options in the COVID Era

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Updated: December 14, 2021 Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed Senate Bill 229 (SB 229) into law on December 14, 2021, which enacts several temporary law provisions that give school districts greater flexibility to deliver alternative learning…

U.S. Department of Education Releases “Roadmap” to Return to In-Person Learning

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August 3, 2021 On August 2, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (Department) released the “Return to School Roadmap,” a resource to students, educators, school districts and parents in preparation for the return to in-person learning…

Guidance Issued Regarding Districts’ Obligations to Students Suffering from “Long COVID” Under the IDEA and Section 504

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August 2, 2021 On July 26, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) published a joint resource to provide information about school districts’…

HB 110 Changes to Blended Learning

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July 30, 2021 One of the many changes associated with Ohio’s Biennial Budget, House Bill (HB) 110, includes revisions to the statutes addressing implementation of a Blended Learning Model. It’s important to be aware of these changes,…

CDC and State Department of Health Issue New COVID Guidance for Ohio School Districts

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July 28, 2021  On July 27, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued this update recommending “universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccinations…

Sixth Circuit Issues Opinion on School District’s Public Participation Policy

July 22, 2021  On July 7, 2021, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in Ison, et al. v. Madison Local School Dist. Bd. of Edn., regarding a challenge to the public participation policy adopted by the Madison Local School…

HB 244 and COVID Considerations for the 2021 School Year

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July 21, 2021 On July 14, 2021, Governor DeWine signed Ohio House Bill (HB) 244, which prohibits public school districts and state institutions of higher education from requiring an individual to receive a vaccine that has not been granted…

Ohio Budget Bill Includes Sweeping Reforms for School Districts

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July 19, 2021  Ohio’s operating budget for fiscal years 2022-2023 is now law after Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 110 (HB 110) on July 1, 2021. Included in the bill are a number of policy changes affecting the state’s K-12 schools,…

Ohio H.B. 110 Allows for Creation of Online Learning Schools

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July 12, 2021 On July 1, 2021, Governor DeWine signed H.B. 110, Ohio’s 2022-2023 biennial budget, into law, which allows local, city, exempted village and joint vocational school districts (“school districts”) to request to use an “online…

State Supreme Court Ruling Requires Training for Armed Staff in Ohio Schools

June 28, 2021 On June 23, 2021, the Supreme Court of Ohio made the long-awaited ruling in Gabbard v. Madison Local School District Board of Education that teachers and school staff members must meet state peace officer training or experience…

Title IX Protection Extends to Students Who Are Gay & Transgender

June 23, 2021  The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will fully enforce Title IX to prohibit schools that receive federal financial assistance from discriminating against students based on their sexual…

Navigating ESSER Funds in an Ever-Changing COVID-19 Landscape

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June 2, 2021 Although the pandemic is seemingly subsiding in the U.S., public school districts in Ohio still face the challenge of how to use multiple forms of pandemic-related government funding. Notably, the task of navigating the permissible…

Governor DeWine Requires Schools to Continue Social Distancing and Mask Wearing

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May 18, 2021 On May 12, 2021, Governor DeWine announced public health orders such as capacity limits, social distancing and the mask mandate will come to an end, with the exception of those for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. …

Blended Learning: What you need to know before the July 1 deadline

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May 17, 2021  With districts still scrambling to determine how to continue online learning for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond, many are considering implementation of blended learning. Under Ohio law, “blended learning” means the…

Governor DeWine Announces Ohio Health Orders to End on June 2, 2021; Schools Left with Choice to Continue Requiring Masks

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May 17, 2021 Ohio’s health orders will end on June 2, 2021, more than a full year after Ohio Governor Mike DeWine first enacted the orders. Prior restrictions will remain in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, but all other…

School Districts Can Get Tax Relief for Certain Paid Leave Expenses

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May 4, 2021 It’s not your typical tax relief. And while it’s available for only a small window of time, it’s tax relief nonetheless. Last month, the IRS issued guidance explaining how employers, including school districts, can claim…

ODE Releases Guidance on Remote Learning for the 2021-22 School Year

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April 5, 2021 On April 1, 2021, the Ohio Department of Education (“ODE”) released much-anticipated guidance regarding remote learning options for the 2021-22 school year. While legislative action to address continuation of remote learning…

New Ohio Law Allows for Standardized Testing and Graduation Requirement Flexibility

March 25, 2021 Effective immediately, Ohio House Bill 67, which Governor DeWine signed into law on March 20, 2021, extends the state spring testing windows for the 2020-2021 school year, waives the administration of the state American History…

School Districts Face Significant Dyslexia Requirements Under House Bill 436

March 5, 2021 On January 9, 2021, Governor DeWine signed HB 436 into law. The law imposes significant new requirements on districts in relation to the identification and education of students who may have dyslexia. Beginning in the 2022-2023…

Property Tax Disputes Are Expected to Proliferate

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March 2, 2021  COVID-19 provides the perfect excuse for commercial real estate owners to challenge their property values this year.  Property owners will assert that, because revenue is down across the board, their property values should…

CDC Urges Schools to Open for In-Person Learning Safely and Soon

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February 18, 2021 Stressing the importance of in-person learning, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released guidance to open and operate K-12 schools in ways that mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (COVID). The CDC’s…

Ohio Releases Guidance for School Districts on Extended Learning Plans for Students

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February 15, 2021  The Ohio Department of Education released this FAQ bulletin to help public school districts learn more about Governor DeWine’s announcement from his press conference on February 9, 2021, to create extended learning plans…

Ohio Must Allow Changes on Birth Certificates for Transgender People

February 8, 2021  April 27, 2021 update: Per a court filing, the Ohio Department of Health will not appeal the decision below and is working on a process for people to change the gender markers on their Ohio birth certificates. The…

FAQ: School Districts and the Coronavirus Vaccine

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January 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

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December 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

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November 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

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November 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

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November 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

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September 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

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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

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August 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

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August 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

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8/14/2020 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

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August 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

Public 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

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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

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

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Updated: 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

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July 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

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June 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

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June 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

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June 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

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Updated 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?

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June 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

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June 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

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June 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

May 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

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May 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

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April 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

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April 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

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March 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…
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What’s Included in Ohio’s COVID-19 Response Law

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On 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

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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…
Student with books and a backpack

Interpreting the Ohio Department of Education’s Guidance Regarding Students with Disabilities During the State’s School-Building Closure

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        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…
Student at computer

Students with Disabilities and Team Considerations During the COVID-19 Crisis

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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…
Social Distancing

Yost Revisits OMA Recommendations, Allows for Electronic Participation at Board Meetings

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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

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March 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…
District Schools on yellow school bus

COVID-19 and District Obligations to Students with Disabilities

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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

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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,…
Property tax graphic

Reminder: The March 31st Deadline for Filing Property Tax Complaints Is Quickly Approaching

Although 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…
Coronavirus name written on a chalkboard

COVID-19: What Ohio Schools Need to Know and Do

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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,…
Text messaging on a cell phone

Careful, Texts on Personal Cell Phones About Employees Can Be Public Records

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The 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…
School desk without a student

Ohio School Truancy: Excessive Absences No Longer Include Medically Excused Absences

Beginning 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…
Letter blocks that spell out IEP

Department of Labor: Employees Can Use FMLA to Attend IEP Meetings

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On 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

CBD Oil Now Legal in Ohio

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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…
Public school building

Ohio’s New Budget Means Changes for the State’s School Districts

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.…
School resource officer watches students

Images Captured by School Resource Officers’ Body Cameras Now Exempt from Public Records Response

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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

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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…
Vape Pens

State Bans Vape Pens on School Buses and Calls for Drivers to Wait at Bus Stops

The 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…
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Supreme Court Declines to Review Transgender Restroom Policy of Pennsylvania School

On 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

The 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

In 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

As 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

As 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

As 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

The 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

The 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

Ruling 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

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

The 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…
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Walter | Haverfield Attorney Named Workers’ Compensation Specialist

The 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

On 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

Ohio 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

Walter | 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…

Walter | 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

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

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

In 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

Senate 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

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

  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

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 Lawyers…

Federal program to offer webinars on website accessibility

  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

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

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  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…