Legal News & Updates

Robbins Schwartz has pioneered defining the practice of education law as a singular discipline. As we continue to expand our services, we stay involved in the ongoing development and evolution of the law.

Latest Updates & News

Guy C. Hall Has Been Appointed as a Member of the Illinois State Bar Health Care Section Council

Robbins Schwartz is pleased to announce Guy C. Hall has been appointed to serve as a Member of the Illinois State Bar Association Health Care Section Council.

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Catherine R. Locallo Named 1st Vice President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers

Catherine R. Locallo has been named 1st Vice President of the Justinian Society of Lawyers.

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Title IX Amendments Released, Effective August 1, 2024

The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has issued its final Title IX regulations, which will go into effect on August 1, 2024. Read more about their guidance in our recent law alert.

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Robbins Schwartz is Pleased to Announce New Associate Attorneys

Robbins Schwartz is pleased to announce our newest Associate Attorneys.

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PAC Provides Further Guidance on Unduly Burdensome FOIA Requests

On March 5, 2024, the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (PAC) issued a non-binding determination letter offering additional guidance to public bodies regarding the designation of requests as unduly burdensome. Read more about their guidance in our recent law alert.

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Schools and Park Districts Only Granted More Time to Comply with Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance

The Board of Commissioners recently passed a revised version of the Paid Leave Ordinance amendment exempting school districts and park districts from the ordinance’s requirements. Read more about the update in our latest law alert.

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Amendment to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act Makes College Employees and Coaches “Mandated Reporters”

On June 27, 2012, Governor Pat Quinn has signed an amendment to Illinois Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, Public Act 97-0711, to require “personnel of institutions of higher education”…

Illinois ASBO Board Honors Kenneth Florey with the Above and Beyond Award

The Illinois Association of School Business Officials Board of Directors presented Kenneth M. Florey with it’s Above and Beyond Award on May 17, 2012. This award recognizes a Service Associate…

RSNLT Congratulates Judge Delort on His Illinois Appellate Court Seat Victory

RSNLT congratulates former partner, Mat Delort, on his recent victory as judge in the Illinois Appellate Court. Before beginning judicial service, Mat Delort was a partner at Robbins Schwartz Nicholas…

What to Do When Unsafe Properties Pose a Threat to the Welfare of the Citizens in Your Township

“What to Do When Unsafe Properties Pose a Threat to the Welfare of the Citizens in Your Township” by M. Neal Smith, Jr. was published in the January 2012 issue…
School Construction

MBE and FBE Goals Applicable to School Construction Projects

On February 16, 2012, Governor Quinn announced that Illinois school districts statewide will receive more than $623 million for school construction. Under Public Act 96-1064, which became effective July 16,…

SB 7 Sequence of Dismissal RIF List Deadline Approaches

This In Brief will highlight the upcoming deadlines related to reductions-in-force (“RIF”) of teachers. It specifically addresses the timelines and additional requirements a district may have under SB 7. Timeline…

Illinois Supreme Court Accepts Case Challenging the Illinois Public School Funding System

On January 25, 2012, the Illinois Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s education funding system, Carr v. Koch, (2011) Ill. App.…

Anti-“Slapp” Law Strikes Only at Suits Filed Solely to Silence Citizen Participation in Government . . . Not Bona Fide Defamation Claims by Public Officials

Interpreting the state’s “anti-SLAPP” (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute enacted in 2007, the Illinois Supreme Court has opined that the law does not prevent public employees and officials from…

Non-Tenured Techer Dismissal Checklist

This In Brief will summarize school district’s obligations under The School Code for non-reemployment and dismissal of non-tenured teachers for performance reasons only. This summary does not apply to reduction-in-force (“RIF”) layoff of non-tenured…

Educational Support Staff RIF Checklist

A reduction-in-force (“RIF”) of ESPs occurs whenever a district decides to decrease the number of ESPs employed by the school board or to discontinue a particular type of support service.…