Legal News & Updates
We monitor legal developments to provide timely, insightful guidance, keeping our clients informed of the latest changes in laws, regulations, and industry trends. Our team stays engaged in the evolution of the law, enabling us to proactively address emerging issues and offer strategic counsel for both current and future challenges.
Latest Updates & News
Gov. Pritzker Renews His Call to Ban Cell Phones in Illinois Classrooms
During his annual State of the State address, Governor Pritzker renewed his call to ban cell phone use during school hours, stating, “It’s time to get cell phones out of the classroom.” The Governor’s office cited research showing that “72% of high school teachers identified cell phone distraction as a ‘major problem’ in their classroom.”
ISSRA, Not FOIA: Clarifying Parents’ Avenue to Access Educational Records
Parents have the right to access their student’s educational records. However, there can be confusion as to which avenue under the law they can or should pursue for access to these student records.
Illinois PAC Issues Binding Opinion on Improper Restrictions on Public Comment
The Illinois PAC issued binding opinion 26-001, finding that the Village of Sauk Village violated the Open Meetings Act by impermissibly restricting a member of the public from addressing the Village Board during a committee meeting.
| Law Alerts
Data Security Breaches: What You Need to Know about the Recent Amendment to the Illinois Personal Information Protection Act
The Illinois Personal Information Protection Act, which obligates “data collectors” (defined to include any public or private entity, including school districts, colleges, townships, park districts, and other local governmental entities…
| Law Alerts
DOL Issues Final Rule Raising Salary Test For Overtime Exemption To $47,476
This morning, the United States Department of Labor issued its final rule under the Fair Labor Standard Act (“FLSA”) which, among other things, raises the annual salary test from $23,000…
| Law Alerts
EEOC Issues New Guidance Document on Leaves of Absence and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
On May 9, 2016, the EEOC released a new guidance document addressing leaves of absence as a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The guidance was issued…
| Law Alerts
New DOE Guidance on Transgender Students in Schools, Colleges and Universities
On May 13, 2016 the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division issued new guidance clarifying the duties of schools, colleges and…
| Law Alerts
Giving Rectal Diastat During A Seizure Is Not A Reasonable Accommodation
On March 2, 2016, after a two-week trial, Judge Zagel of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois held in United States Department of Justice v. Northern…
| Law Alerts
Fourth Circuit Appeal Court Directs Trial Court to Defer to OCR Definition of Sex in Deciding Transgender Student’s Restroom Access Request
On April 19, 2016, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals became the first Appeals Court to address whether or not Title IX requires schools to provide transgender students access to…
| Law Alerts
Supreme Court Decision Potentially Broadens First Amendment Protections for Public Employees
On April 26, 2016, in Heffernan v. City of Paterson, New Jersey, the United States Supreme Court held that where an employer demoted an employee out of a desire to prevent the…
| Law Alerts
Planning for Future RIFs: May 10 Deadline for Job Descriptions
While the 2015-2016 teacher RIF season is coming to an end, planning for the 2016-2017 RIF season is just beginning. In particular, the May 10th deadline for updating your school…
| Law Alerts
EEOC Institutes New Employee-Friendly Discrimination Charge Procedures
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) has recently implemented employee-friendly procedures that will impact how an employer responds to charges of discrimination. The new rules provide that: The EEOC,…