by Riley Atwater IEPs outline the supports necessary for students to progress, but if services are not delivered correctly or consistently, they may be ineffective. The IEP must be implemented as written, or the district risks denying the student FAPE. 34 CFR 300.323 (c). Districts can protect themselves by clarifying intended implementation roles and documentation. […]
With Connecticut’s minimum wage now at $16.35 per hour as of January 1, 2025, school districts must ensure that their per diem substitute teacher rates comply. Specifically, per diem rates must meet or exceed the hourly minimum wage multiplied by the number of hours worked per day. For example, if a school day is seven […]
Following recent federal court decisions and an Executive Order by President Trump, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has announced in a “Dear Colleague” letter that it will revert to the 2020 Title IX Rule, effective immediately. A ruling from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky […]
This winter, the United States Department of Education’s Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services and the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education jointly released guidance on how school districts can use functional behavioral assessments to best support students. To date, since the transition to the Trump Administration, this guidance has not been rescinded or […]
On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order ordering the U.S. Department of Education to rescind guidance issued under President Biden. The prior administration published this guidance to prevent discrimination against students and staff on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The rescinded guidance documents included: 2024 Title […]
On January 9, 2024, a federal judge vacated the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Title IX Final Rule. Now that the Biden Administration has come to an end without an appeal of that decision, it is clear that the 2024 Title IX regulations will not be resurrected any time soon, if ever. While the court’s […]
A federal judge in Kentucky declared the U.S. Department of Education’s 2024 Title IX Final Rule “fatally tainted” and struck down the rule in its entirety, with nationwide effect. The decision states that the Department of Education exceeded its statutory authority in interpreting Title IX, that the Final Rule violates the Constitution in multiple respects, […]
As you are most certainly aware, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Final Rule on Title IX that went into effect on August 1, 2024. This “2024 Rule” made significant changes to the Final Rule on Title IX that went into effect on August 14, 2020 (the “2020 Rule”). Based on legal challenges brought […]
With the expansion of the Connecticut Paid Sick Leave Law (“CPSLL”) effective January 1, 2025, many of our board of education clients have reached out with questions. This FAQ is designed as a resource to guide you in complying with this law. Please reach out to us to assist with crafting appropriate policies or answering […]
Connecticut school districts interested in addressing the impact of personal technology use and social media on students in the classroom now have a decision-making framework provided by the State Department of Education. On August 21, 2024, the Connecticut State Board of Education adopted its Position Statement and Policy Guidance for Personal Technology Use in Connecticut […]
