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

Federal Government Issues Executive Order on Student Athletics and Sues Chicago, Cook County and Illinois Over Immigration Enforcement 

Read our latest law alert summarizing new executive order developments and their implications for institutions, including key timelines to note.

Read More

Now Available: 2025 Title IX Toolkit for K-12 Educational Institutions

Robbins Schwartz is proud to offer our 2025 Title IX Toolkit for K-12 Educational Institutions to assist schools in implementation of the 2020 Title IX regulations. Learn how to purchase the toolkit here.

Read More

Annual Reminder on Educational Support Staff RIF Procedures and Teacher Non-Renewal/RIF Deadlines

As the 2024-25 school year continues through the winter months, school districts are beginning to plan and review their staffing needs for the 2025-26 school year. In assessing options to address those needs, some school districts may determine it is necessary to implement a reduction-in-force (“RIF”) of its educational support staff, a statutory process driven by The School Code. Many school districts are also likely to be considering the non-reemployment of non-tenured teachers at the end of the 2024-25 school term, or a RIF of teachers, statutory processes that were significantly modified in recent years. Given the various procedural requirements imposed on school districts, we believe an annual reminder of those requirements will be of assistance as districts plan for their future personnel and staffing needs.

Read More

More Executive Orders and Federal Guidance Impacting Educational Institutions

Read our latest law alert about additional executive orders and federal guidance affecting educational institutions.

Read More

Lunar New Year

Learn more about Lunar New Year in our latest DEI Spotlight.

Read More

Now Available: Preparation for Immigration Enforcement Toolkit for Illinois Higher Education Institutions

Robbins Schwartz is proud to offer our guidance documents and templates to assist Illinois higher education administrators in navigating interactions with immigration officials, in accordance with the executive order titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” Learn more here.

Read More

New FOIA Amendments Ease Burden on Public Bodies

On August 27, 2011, Public Act 97-579 was signed into law, which amends FOIA by: (1) eliminating the “pre-authorization” process when asserting a denial under Section 7(1)(c) or 7(1)(f) of…

School District Victorious in Kankakee County Property Tax Dispute

In a victory for Illinois taxing bodies, the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board (“PTAB”) this month issued a decision rejecting an over-valuation challenge to the assessment of an industrial property…

New Law Mandates Training for All Board Members

On August 23, 2011, Governor Quinn signed into law Public Act 97-504 (the “Act”), which amends the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) by requiring all elected and appointed members of a public body…

Employees and Their Social Media Postings: Are They Protected Activity?

Employers are presently confronted with difficult legal and practical issues when considering the possibility of punishing employees for their statements on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. When is…

Lorence H. Slutzky Quoted in Las Vegas Sun

Legal skirmish over flawed Harmon may never reveal defect blame…

Articles by Joseph Perkoski & Heidi Katz Published by Update Magazine

Partners Joseph Perkoski and Heidi Katz were featured contributors to the summer 2011 issue of IASBO’s Update magazine. Joe’s article on “Finding a New Way: Subcontracting Revisited” offered strategies for…

RSNLT Named as one of the 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work for in Chicago for Second Consecutive Year

This award was established to honor companies in each market that recognize employees as their greatest asset. These companies work with imagination and conviction to create organizational value and business…

An Overview of Public Act 97-0008 – 2011 Education Reform Act

On June 13, 2011, Governor Quinn signed SB 7 into law during a bill signing ceremony in Maywood, Illinois. A proper assessment of Senate Bill 7 (SB 7) begins with…

Court Decision Raises Questions about Multi-year Administrator Contracts

A recent federal district court decision in Illinois has raised questions about the inclusion of performance goals and the enforceability of multi-year employment agreements for school superintendents. In Wynn v.…

Pension Reform Bill Stalls in the Illinois House of Representatives

A pension reform plan that was making its way through the Illinois General Assembly has stalled. Senate Bill 512 would have created a three-tiered retirement system for most state employees,…