The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights issued a webinar today addressing online education and website accessibility. In the webinar, the Department of Education recognized that e-learning activities are becoming the norm as schools move their educational operations online in an effort […]
In the Nick of Time—Special Education Timelines During School Closures for Coronavirus
March 17, 2020
Originally posted on our Special Education Law Insights Blog. In the wake of Governor Pritzker’s recent order requiring all Illinois schools to close between March 17 and March 30, many schools and school districts have been left guessing how to best serve students […]
Joint Statement Clarifies That Employees Can Be Expected to Work During Act of God Days
March 17, 2020
Although Act of God days between March 17 and March 30 will not be made up and are not instructional days, “the employer can expect school district employees to participate in work activities,” including stipend work, “in some form,” according to a joint […]
UPDATED: OMA and FOIA Requirements Amidst School Closures
March 16, 2020
In the face of mandated school closures beginning on March 17, 2020, Illinois school districts are assessing their ability to comply with sunshine laws, including the Illinois Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), while addressing […]
ISBE Guidance Aims to Relieve Confusion for Closing Schools
March 16, 2020
Governor JB Pritzker’s recent order that all K-12 schools in Illinois be closed between March 17 and March 30 has left school districts scrambling to prepare to close school tomorrow. On Saturday, March 14, ISBE updated its Mandatory Statewide School […]
Download the full summary here. In the early hours of March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which, among other things, provides employees affected by coronavirus with paid sick leave and […]
Governor Pritzker to Extend Unemployment Benefits to Employees Affected by Coronavirus
March 13, 2020
On March 12, Governor Pritzker announced that his administration will file emergency rules clarifying that individuals unemployed due to COVID-19 will be generally qualified for unemployment benefits to the full extent provided by federal law. These rules are expected to […]
Access the guide here. Since the first reported case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, Illinois employers have been preparing for a potential outbreak within the state. This preparation has inevitably raised difficult legal […]