On April 19, 2017, Senator Don White, a Republican from Indiana County, saw his bill to allow trained teachers and other school employees to carry loaded guns on campus, pass the Education Committee 9-3, ensuring its consideration by the full Senate. The bill, SB 383, would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to grant School Directors the power to allow trained teachers and other school employees … [Read more...] about Guns, Money, and Personal Safety: The Debate Continues as SB 383 Argues for Guns In School
School Law Bullet
It’s Official: Commonwealth Court Says Pencil is Not A Weapon
The Commonwealth Court’s analysis of the School Code provisions in its May 1, 2017 decision (S.A. by H.O. v. Pittsburgh Public Sch. Dist.) will guide schools in identifying the basis for student discipline in future matters. Facts In The Case On May 9, 2016, S.A., a 10th grade student in a Pittsburgh school, was involved in a peer altercation. One peer threw a cap to a cologne bottle at S.A. … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Commonwealth Court Says Pencil is Not A Weapon
You Heard It Here First – Endrew F. and E-mails as FERPA Records
Courts in Pennsylvania have been quick to respond to the “new” FAPE standard established by the Supreme Court in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, which was decided a mere two weeks ago. And, as predicted, the standard for a FAPE in the Third Circuit, at least for now, remains unchanged by Endrew F. According to the courts in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in the matters of … [Read more...] about You Heard It Here First – Endrew F. and E-mails as FERPA Records
Commonwealth Court Reiterates Need to Make Gifted Programming Individualized
On March 6, 2017, in the case of Downingtown Area School District v. K.D., the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court issued a rare ruling in the area of gifted education, reminding school districts of the need to ensure that gifted education and placements must “be tailored to a student’s individual gifted needs, including the instructional environment, methods and manner of instruction.” Background In … [Read more...] about Commonwealth Court Reiterates Need to Make Gifted Programming Individualized
Supreme Court Rules on What a FAPE Requires – Has Court Raised the Bar? Or Lowered It In Third Circuit?
On March 22, 2017, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, for the first time since Rowley, on what a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under the IDEA requires. In Endrew F. , the Court held that to offer a FAPE, “a school must offer an IEP reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances.” … [Read more...] about Supreme Court Rules on What a FAPE Requires – Has Court Raised the Bar? Or Lowered It In Third Circuit?
Prevailing Wisdom: Schools Should Continue to Weigh Transgender Student Needs on Case by Case Basis
On February 22, 2017, the Trump Administration, through the Departments of Education and Justice (the “Agencies”), rescinded guidance issued by his predecessor concerning the rights of transgender students. The Dear Colleague Letter withdrew prior guidance letters issued by the Agencies in January of 2015 and May of 2016. Both of the withdrawn letters provided directives to school districts … [Read more...] about Prevailing Wisdom: Schools Should Continue to Weigh Transgender Student Needs on Case by Case Basis
