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Connecticut Education Law Blog

State Board of Education Publishes Guidance on School District Cellphone and Personal Technology Policies

By: Weston Stephens

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 […]

Major Overtime Rule Change Effective July 1 – What You Need To Know To Prepare Now

By: Rebecca Goldberg

The U.S. Department of Labor released its final rule, requiring minimum wage and overtime for some employees who are currently “exempt” from these requirements. Employers need to plan ahead for implementation, as the rule change could lead to seismic shifts in some payrolls. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) requires that employees receive minimum […]

Title IX Changes Are Here – Your Roadmap for the New Requirements

By: Rebecca Goldberg

All public and private elementary and secondary schools, school districts, colleges, and universities receiving federal funds must take note of major changes to Title IX regulations.  The U.S. Department of Education recently updated these regulations, which address how educational institutions handle complaints of sex discrimination and sexual harassment.  The new regulations go into effect August […]

Education Law Client Advisory: Section 47 of Public Act 23-137 does not apply retroactively

By: Herbert Z. Rosen

On October 11, 2023, Berchem Moses secured a hearing officer’s order preventing the retroactive application of Section 47 of Public Act 23-137 concerning which party proceeds first with their evidence in a special education due process hearing to a case that had originally been filed with the Bureau of Special Education on May 1, 2023. […]

IDEA Eligibility Extended

By: Herbert Z. Rosen

This past legislative session, the Connecticut Legislature extended the timeline through which students are eligible for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”).  Per Public Act 23-137, all students remain eligible for special education services under the IDEA: Through the end of the school year[1] during which the student turns 22; or Until […]

Supreme Court Allows Parents to Bring ADA Claims Against School Districts for Monetary Damages

On March 21, 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled that parents of students with disabilities who sue for disability discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), do not have to exhaust their remedies under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) before seeking monetary damages.  The case, Perez v. Sturgis […]

New OCR Resources: Title IX Compliance in Athletics Programs

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new resources to support equal opportunity in athletic programs consistent with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.  Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance and is enforced by OCR. OCR designed these resources to help students, […]

Connecticut absentee program, Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (LEAP), reports success since its launch

The Learner Engagement and Attendance Program (“LEAP”) reports success since its launch in April 2021. The program was established using federal Covid-19 relief funding with the goal of curbing student chronic absenteeism in the districts of Bridgeport, CREC, Danbury, East Hartford, Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, New Haven, New Britain, New London, Norwich, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury and […]

NEWLY UPDATED: Guidance on School Obligations to Highly Mobile Children with Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Education recently issued a Letter to State Directors of Special Education on Ensuring a High-Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children, updating guidance and resources originally set forth in the Department’s July 19, 2013 Dear Colleague Letter. The purpose of the letter is to provide a list of resources and reminders to […]

NEW: Discrimination Based on Pregnancy and Related Conditions Resource

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights released a resource to remind school communities that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects students and employees from discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions. Protections for Students Title IX protects students against harassment by school employees or other students because of their pregnancy […]