According to recent news reports, a New Jersey school district has agreed to pay $9.1 million to the parents of a middle school student who took her own life after being bullied in school and online in 2017. Similar lawsuits against school districts concerning bullying have been making headlines in recent months, with some resulting in multimillion dollar settlements in favor of parents and … [Read more...] about $9.1 Million New Jersey Bullying Settlement Sends Warning Signal to Schools
School Law Bullet
What Schools Should Know About the CROWN Act
On July 7, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the CROWN Act by a 182-21 bipartisan vote. CROWN stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. If the Senate passes the measure, it will amend the state’s Human Relations Act to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture or style and apply to both students and employees. To date, about two dozen states … [Read more...] about What Schools Should Know About the CROWN Act
Can a School Board Member Block a Critical Parent on Social Media? SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Case
While social media can be an effective and efficient tool to communicate with parents and other stakeholders, its role in public education has come under scrutiny in recent years and has even landed some school districts in the middle of lawsuits. One lawsuit likely to shed some light on what school board members can and cannot do when using their social media accounts is O’Connor-Ratcliff v. … [Read more...] about Can a School Board Member Block a Critical Parent on Social Media? SCOTUS Agrees to Hear Case
Professional Development or Compelled Speech? Petition Claims Teacher Training Guidelines Are Unconstitutional
Three Pennsylvania school districts and several teachers, board members, and parents, filed a petition against the Pennsylvania Department of Education (“PDE”) on April 17, 2023, challenging new guidelines implemented by PDE relating to educator preparation, induction, and continuing professional development. The petition alleges these guidelines, among other things, violate Pennsylvania’s … [Read more...] about Professional Development or Compelled Speech? Petition Claims Teacher Training Guidelines Are Unconstitutional
In The Court of First Amendment Law, Satan Club: 1, School District: 0
A U.S. District Court has granted preliminary injunction permitting the Satan Club to use a school district’s facilities. What are the central issues and how should school districts handle these questions in light of the recent trend for courts to find in favor of free speech? On May 1, 2023, U.S. District Court Judge John M. Gallagher ordered Saucon Valley School District to permit the … [Read more...] about In The Court of First Amendment Law, Satan Club: 1, School District: 0
U.S. Department of Education Proposes Change to Title IX Regulations on Student Eligibility for Athletic Teams
In advance of the long-predicted May 2023 issuance of new Title IX regulations, the U.S. Department of Education issued a proposed Title IX rule on April 6th that is designed to expand the meaning of sexual discrimination to include gender identity. This change would prevent schools and colleges from barring transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams. The new rule would … [Read more...] about U.S. Department of Education Proposes Change to Title IX Regulations on Student Eligibility for Athletic Teams
