In what the U.S. Government Accountability Office characterizes in its Report to Congress as a “soft-power” initiative, China has financially supported Confucius Institutes (CIs) in colleges and universities in 44 states, as well as in K-12 school districts. The stated purpose of the CIs is to enhance the image of China, capitalizing on the image of Confucius, the ancient Chinese philosopher … [Read more...] about Confucius Says… Better Report or Else!
Courts Begin to Push Back on Exorbitant Prevailing Party Attorneys’ Fees
In a step forward for public education, courts are beginning to scrutinize more closely the fee demands made by parent's counsel in IDEA and related cases as a result of challenges to those fees by district counsel. Amendment Results in Change to the Practice Under the IDEA In 1990, Congress amended the IDEA to permit award of attorney’s fees to parents who prevail at a hearing. Thus, in … [Read more...] about Courts Begin to Push Back on Exorbitant Prevailing Party Attorneys’ Fees
KingSpry Congratulates Dr. Kathleen Conn, Invited to Serve on Independent Advisory Board
KingSpry congratulates Dr. Kathleen Conn, of counsel to the firm, who has been asked by the University of Alabama to serve on an Independent Advisory Board for a proposal to NSF’s EHR Core Research Solicitation to characterize the perception of engineering in rural America. The goal of the project is to understand what K-12 students, parents, and teachers believe engineering is so that we … [Read more...] about KingSpry Congratulates Dr. Kathleen Conn, Invited to Serve on Independent Advisory Board
Who Is a “Person” Under Title IX: Conflict Coming?
In July, Collegiate Comment reported on the growing number of court decisions in various jurisdictions that are refusing to recognize causes of action under Title IX brought by individuals sexually assaulted at colleges and universities. These rulings require that to sustain a Title IX cause of action, the victim of the assault and the alleged perpetrator must both be enrolled at the same … [Read more...] about Who Is a “Person” Under Title IX: Conflict Coming?
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Agrees to Hear a Case in Which Two Prior Court Rulings Question Whether Pennsylvania will Follow the National Trend of Promoting Employees’ Ability to Change Jobs
In Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, Inc. v. BeeMack Trucking, LLC, Pittsburgh Logistics Company sought a preliminary injunction to enforce a contractual no-hire provision it had with BeeMack Trucking. The no-hire provision prevented BeeMack, during the term of the contract and for two years after its termination, from hiring or soliciting any employee of Pittsburgh Logistics Systems, Inc. After four … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Supreme Court Agrees to Hear a Case in Which Two Prior Court Rulings Question Whether Pennsylvania will Follow the National Trend of Promoting Employees’ Ability to Change Jobs
Defining Who Is a “Person” Under Title IX
A Title IX lawsuit is a cause of action against an educational institution, not against an individual or group of individuals. Sexual assault is considered to be discrimination on the basis of sex, and individuals who experience sexual assault may bring a Title IX claim against the educational institution if the institution is deliberately indifferent to the assault. However, at least three … [Read more...] about Defining Who Is a “Person” Under Title IX
