Jennifer Smith and Jackie Gharapour Wernz co-authored the article, “Shield and Sword: The Law is a Driver for Educational Equity” published in the National Association of School Board’s American School Board Journal April 2020 issue. The article focuses on how […]
On Friday, March 27, 2020, the Governor and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued five documents totaling 91 pages of orders, declarations, guidance, statements, and recommendations for K-12 public schools relating to the current mandatory school closure in […]
Labor Department Provides New Details Regarding Implementation of Emergency Sick and FMLA Leave
March 30, 2020
Over the weekend (March 28 and 29, 2020), the United States Department of Labor updated its Question and Answers webpage providing guidance regarding implementation of the paid sick and FMLA leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) […]
Governor’s Executive Order 2020-15 Permits Electronic Bid Openings for School District Construction Projects
March 30, 2020
On Friday, Governor Pritzker issued Executive Order 2020-15 allowing school districts to communicate, respond to, and open bids electronically for school construction projects. Section 10-20.21 of the Illinois School Code would otherwise prohibit bids for construction purposes from being communicated, […]
Title IX Considerations During COVID-19 School Closures
March 27, 2020
Originally posted on our Title IX Insights Blog While Illinois schools—and schools across the country—remain closed due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19, keep in mind that schools currently are not relieved from their obligations under Title IX or other civil rights […]
COVID-19 Stimulus Law Allots $13.5 Billion to Public Schools
March 27, 2020
Today, the President signed a $2 trillion stimulus package into law to help industries impacted by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The package includes a $30 billion Education Stabilization Fund for K-12 school districts and institutions of higher education. What funds […]
Key Reminders on Student Enrollment, Discipline, Records, and Special Education During School Closures
March 27, 2020
As the issues related to the mandated school closures in response to the COVID-19 crisis continue to rapidly evolve, the Governor extended the closure through April 7, and in all likelihood, Illinois schools will remain closed beyond that date as […]
Supreme Court Holds that Claims for Intentional Discrimination Under Section 1981 Must Meet “But For” Causation Test
March 26, 2020
Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act prohibits intentional race discrimination in all forms of contracting including employment. Lower courts have split as to whether a § 1981 plaintiff must prove that race was only one motivating factor among several, […]