What Comes Next in Special Ed?
Over the past several months, many have asked what comes next in the field of special education, especially in the areas of child find, compensatory services, and the availability of COVID relief programs.
Please welcome: Ellen D. Lueking
Ellen D. Lueking graduated with a B.S.
The American Rescue Plan
The American Rescue Plan has passed both the House and Senate and awaits President Biden’s signature. President Biden signed the legislation on Friday, March 12, 2021.
President Biden’s Executive Order Affecting Title IX
The executive order directs the Secretary of Education to provide the findings of the review to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget within 100 days.
Title IX Training for Title IX Coordinators, Investigators, and Decision-Makers
The new Title IX regulations, effective August 14, 2020, require each school district to appoint certain personnel to serve as the Title IX Coordinator, Investigators, and Decision-Makers, and the rules require specific training components for the individuals in those roles.
New FOIA Guidance from Illinois Attorney General
The Public Access Counselor (“the PAC”) updated its guidance on the Open Meetings and the Freedom of Information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
School Law Issues Carrying Over
Despite these new requirements, there are also several legal changes from the last year that will be fully implemented in the 2020-2021 school year that may require changes to policy (if not already), handbooks, and practice:
Tenured Teacher Dismissal for Cheating on Statewide Testing Affirmed by Illinois Appellate Court
In a divided decision of the Third District Illinois Appellate Court, the Court upheld a Board's decision to terminate a tenured teacher after a Hearing Officer found insufficient evidence to affirm the Board's dismissal of the teacher.