Amidst a recently intensified national debate regarding support for transgender students in schools, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Education (DOE) today issued new guidance setting out guidelines for how they will enforce Title IX of the […]
Franczek P.C. is delighted to announce that it has been recognized as one of the leading law firms in the nation for female attorneys by Law360. In their 2016 Glass Ceiling Report, the legal publication designated the firm as a […]
Students Have One Year After Reaching the Age of Eighteen to File Personal Injury Lawsuit Against School
February 3, 2016
The Illinois Appellate Court (Second District) recently determined that a student who was injured while at school as a minor could not pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the school district because she did not file the lawsuit within one […]
Revised Illinois Special Education Regulations Go into Effect
February 3, 2016
The Illinois regulations related to special education were recently revised, effective January 13, 2016. Many of the changes clarify language or remove provisions specifically applicable to prior years. Additionally, references to cognitive disability have been changed to intellectual disability and […]
PAC Finds FOIA Predecisional Exemption Does Not Apply to Training Materials on Final Policy
January 15, 2016
Recently, the Attorney General issued a binding opinion finding that the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget (GOMB) violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by withholding a PowerPoint presentation used as training materials. The PAC drew some key distinctions […]
Section 11(i) of the FOIA provides “If a person seeking the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record prevails in a proceeding under this Section, the court shall award such person reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.” […]
Illinois Supreme Court Rules Educational Employers Are Not Required to Arbitrate “Do Not Hire” Designation
January 15, 2016
When the Chicago Board of Education refused to arbitrate grievances concerning its “do not hire” policy, it did not violate the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act according to the Illinois Supreme Court. This case arises out of a June 2010 policy in […]
School Boards Beware: Appellate Court Applies High Bar for School Board Ignoring Hearing Officer’s Findings of Fact
January 6, 2016
The Illinois Appellate Court (Fifth District) recently reversed a school board’s decision to dismiss a tenured teacher for failure to comply with a notice to remedy. This case confirms that while school boards have considerable discretion under Section 24-12 of […]