Many school districts and charter schools rely on fundraising activities for clubs and sports that involve the sale of food and beverages, but that practice may need to be curtailed under new guidance from PDE requiring more creative fundraising or selling of healthier foods. The USDA has issued nutrition standards for all foods that are sold on school grounds during the school day, commonly … [Read more...] about PDE Limits Fundraisers That Don’t Comply With Smart Snack Standards
Obama Signs Executive Order Banning Workplace Anti-LGBT Discrimination
Today, despite pressure from opposing political flanks and requests for exemption from religious leaders, President Barack Obama continued to make good on his promise to end anti-LGBT workplace discrimination. This morning, the President signed an executive order which amended previous executive orders of Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon. The original executive orders banned workplace … [Read more...] about Obama Signs Executive Order Banning Workplace Anti-LGBT Discrimination
DOL to Employers: Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You About On-Site Visits for FMLA Compliance
Recently, the new FMLA Branch Chief of the Department of Labor, Helen Applewhaite, gave a heads up to employers to be prepared for on-site DOL visits to check for FMLA compliance. At a conference in April, Ms. Applewhaite called 2014 a “pivotal” year for FMLA enforcement and she set forth the DOL’s renewed interest in conducting on-site FMLA compliance investigations. She predicted employee … [Read more...] about DOL to Employers: Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn You About On-Site Visits for FMLA Compliance
IRS Unveils New Application Form to Help Charitable Organizations
Finally! There is now a simpler process for forming charitable organizations. New Form 1023-EZ, unveiled July 1, 2014 by the IRS, will streamline the application process for most new organizations. The jury is still out on whether 1023-EZ will improve IRS processing time, but this is certainly great news for new charities applying for tax-exempt status. Click Here to Read the News Release from the … [Read more...] about IRS Unveils New Application Form to Help Charitable Organizations
Testing Special Education
In a major shift, the federal government is now going to evaluate the effectiveness of states’ programs for their special education students based on student success. Under a new framework known as Results-Driven Accountability, the U.S. Department of Education will now take educational results for students with disabilities into consideration when evaluating each state’s compliance with the … [Read more...] about Testing Special Education
Department of Education Invites Comments on Clery Act Changes
In the wake of heightened awareness – and much publicity -- of campus security crises in recent years, the federal government has responded with far-reaching expansion of existing laws. Will these new requirements ensure campus safety? Time will tell. But the clock is ticking as deadlines loom for colleges to show at least a “good faith effort’ that they are doing all they can to revise policies … [Read more...] about Department of Education Invites Comments on Clery Act Changes
