Priority Briefings

In an opinion issued on December 15, 2015, the Illinois Appellate Court rebuffed the Illinois Attorney General (AG) with regard to her office’s rulings on the propriety of the procedures by which a school board approved a severance agreement. The decision in the case of Board of Education of Springfield School District No. 186 v. […]

• Posted on: Jan 4 2016
• By: Sraga Hauser

Last month, we reported on the findings made by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the closely-watched investigation into a suburban high school District’s treatment of a transgender student (Unsettled: Transgender Student Civil Rights, https://www.hauserizzo.com/unsettled-transgender-student-civil-rights-2/). The Student, a biological male, identifies as a female.  The Student’s OCR complaint alleged the […]

• Posted on: Dec 4 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the IDEA (November 29, 1975), the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has released new guidance clarifying its expectation that a child’s annual IEP goals are to be aligned with state academic content standards for the grade in which the child is enrolled. Under the IDEA, a child with […]

• Posted on: Nov 30 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

In a case garnering significant national attention, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has determined that an Illinois district has violated the civil rights of a transgender high school student. Over the last several years, Township High School District 211 has permitted transgender students to use the bathroom of their identified […]

• Posted on: Nov 5 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

Clarifying what has previously been a gray area of the law, the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that school districts are subject to municipal zoning ordinances. In Gurba v. Community High School District No. 155, 2015 IL 118332 (2015), the Court determined that the Crystal Lake School District illegally constructed football field bleachers when it […]

• Posted on: Nov 5 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

English Learners Tool Kit In January, we reported on newly released joint guidance from the U.S. Departments of Education and Justice, which outlined a school district’s obligation to ensure that English Learners have equal access to a high-quality education. (English Learner Students: New Federal Guidance, https://www.hauserizzo.com/joint-federal-guidance-and-toolkit-reminds-schools-of-their-obligation-to-provide-equitable-educational-access-for-english-learner-students/) In support of that guidance, the Office of English […]

• Posted on: Sep 28 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

Illinois Legislature Dramatically Reforms Out-Of-School Disciplinary Procedures Governor Rauner signed Senate Bill 100 into law as Public Act 99-456 on August 24, 2015. The bill, which aims to address the school-to-prison pipeline, dramatically reforms the circumstances under and the processes by which a school district can impose out-of-school discipline. School districts do not need to […]

• Posted on: Sep 21 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

School board members, administrators, attorneys: we have all been there. The school board has voted correctly to go into closed session to talk about a topic which is a proper one, say employment of specific personnel, the sale price of district-owned property, or collective bargaining matters. But after a few minutes, board members’ comments and […]

• Posted on: Jun 1 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

As school district officials prepare the agenda for their June school board meetings, it is best to remember two routine but essential annual actions which should be on that agenda. Prevailing Wages. The Illinois Prevailing Wage Act (820 ILCS 130/0.01 et seq.) establishes a policy under which school districts and other public bodies must require […]

• Posted on: May 27 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in all federally funded education programs and requires school districts, colleges, […]

• Posted on: May 6 2015
• By: Sraga Hauser