Legal News & Updates
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June 17, 2025 | K-12 Updates
Supreme Court Rules Students Claiming Disability Discrimination Do Not Face Higher Standard of Proof than Other ADA and Rehabilitation Act Plaintiffs
SCOTUS unanimously ruled in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School Dist. No. 279 that students suing educational institutions for disability discrimination should not have to face a higher standard of proof than plaintiffs in other federal discrimination lawsuits brought under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
June 9, 2025 | K-12 Updates
LGBTQ+ Books in Schools and Religious Rights Under Review by SCOTUS
The U.S. Supreme Court will be weighing in on an important case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, concerning parental rights to the free exercise of religion and the authority of school districts over curriculum content and required instruction in the classroom.
June 6, 2025 | General Updates
Supreme Court Reverses “Reverse Discrimination” Employment Law Standard
On June 4, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision in the case of Ames v. Ohio Dept. of Youth Services.
June 6, 2025 | K-12 Updates
Bill Requiring Seat Belts on School Buses Goes to Governor for Signature
The Illinois General Assembly recently passed Senate Bill 191, which would add Section 12-826 to the Illinois Vehicle Code, requiring seat belts to be installed on each newly purchased school bus.
June 5, 2025 | K-12 Updates
The Establishment Clause and More: Religious Charter Schools and Religion in the Classroom
On May 22, 2025, a deadlocked Supreme Court blocked the creation of religious charter schools in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board and St. Isidore v. Drummond. This decision leaves in place the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that declared authorizing religious charter schools violated the constitutional separation of church and state.
June 4, 2025 | Higher Education Updates
Legislative (In)Action on Key Bills for Community Colleges
As the 104th General Assembly concluded its spring session last week, it considered several key bills affecting higher education, particularly community colleges.
May 30, 2025 | Higher Education Updates
Recent Bill Amends the Public Community College Act to Limit the Use of AI as an Instructional Tool
As the use of AI expands in higher education, the state is integrating AI-related policies into existing legislation. Learn more in our latest law alert.
May 27, 2025 | General Updates
“First Amendment Audits” Test Boundaries at Public Institutions
Public institutions are seeing a rise in “First Amendment audits,” where private citizens enter public spaces, record video, and often request documents under Illinois FOIA. Read more in our latest law alert.
April 25, 2025 | K-12 Updates
DEI Updates: Federal Court Decisions Impact OCR Dear Colleague Letter and Title VI Certification Form
On April 24, 2025, two federal judges issued decisions in lawsuits brought against the U.S. Department of Education (the “Department”) related to DEI in schools. Read more in our latest law alert.
April 7, 2025 | Higher Education Updates
Seventh Circuit Sides with Professor in Academic Freedom Case
On March 12, 2025, the Seventh Circuit revived a lawsuit by UIC Law Professor Jason Kilborn, who claims the school retaliated against him for protected speech. Read more in our latest law alert.
