As an attorney representing Connecticut educational institutions (and employers in general), I am receiving numerous calls from clients with respect to how to properly address the possibility that the upcoming Thanksgiving...more
11/9/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
Health and Safety ,
Holidays ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Public Health ,
Quarantine ,
Screening Procedures ,
Students ,
Teachers ,
Thanksgiving ,
Traveling Employee ,
Virus Testing ,
Workplace Safety
To the shock of no one, the guidance concerning the use of in-person, “hybrid” and remote learning models in the Connecticut schools during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve. This is not completely...more
We have written repeatedly in these pages about the evolving guidance from Connecticut’s State Department of Education (SDE) with respect to the wearing of masks (and face coverings) in the schools...more
Now that Connecticut’s schools are reopening, the million-dollar question is what happens when there is the (unfortunate) inevitable brush with COVID-19. Schools must balance the competing need to safeguard the health and...more
On August 31, 2020, the State Department of Education (SDE) issued via “Addendum 11” revised “Interim Guidance” on the wearing of masks in Connecticut’s schools....more
On August 14, 2020, the Governor’s office issued Executive Order 7NNN, which addressed the mandatory wearing of masks and other face coverings in public (with a limited exception for those with a medical condition). ...more
9/4/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Educational Institutions ,
Executive Orders ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Interim Guidance ,
Personal Protective Equipment ,
Public Health ,
Re-Opening Guidelines ,
Social Distancing ,
Students
To the shock of no one, both the state and federal governments continue to revise their guidance concerning the reopening of the schools. On the date (July 24, 2020) that public schools were supposed to file their reopening...more
Connecticut’s schools have the unenviable task of having to plan for the “reopening” of schools while dealing with ever-shifting (and apparently end-result driven) federal and state guidance. ...more
Schools have already been closed for two months due to COVID-19 and shall remain so until the end of the school year. The questions about when they will re-open keep coming with no definitive answer. But, perhaps there is...more
Both the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) and its Connecticut counterpart provide eligible employees with leave to care for a covered family member (such as a child) who has a “serious health condition.” ...more
Among other things, the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) grants parents access to educational and related records concerning their child. Under FERPA, “education records” are broadly defined as...more
12/24/2019
/ Electronic Communications ,
Electronic Records ,
Email ,
FERPA ,
FOIA ,
Invasion of Privacy ,
Public Schools ,
School Districts ,
Special Education ,
Student Privacy ,
Student Records ,
Students
The 2019 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly concluded on June 5, 2019. The legislature passed significant labor and employment legislation that addressed, inter alia, remedies for sexual harassment and...more
At its March 25, 2019 meeting, the General Assembly’s Education Committee continued its hyperkinetic work by approving another flurry of bills. The following is a brief summary of the bills that the Committee voted favorably...more
On Friday, March 1, 2019, the General Assembly’s Education Committee will conduct a public hearing, which will take place at 11:00 A.M. in Room 2E of the Legislative Office Building. A particular focus of this hearing will...more
The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly passed bills that, among other things: (1) revise the Student Data Privacy Act; (2) address budgetary issues stemming from attempts at reducing and rescinding...more
8/3/2018
/ Cost-Sharing ,
Data Privacy ,
Disabled Children ,
Diversity ,
Educational Institutions ,
FOIA ,
Food Allergies ,
General Assembly ,
Governor Vetoes ,
Grants ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Mobile Devices ,
Natural Disasters ,
New Legislation ,
Public Employers ,
Public Health ,
Public Schools ,
Puerto Rico ,
Right to Privacy ,
Risk Assessment ,
Safety Standards ,
Special Education ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets ,
Students ,
Teachers
On Thursday, March 8, 2018, the General Assembly’s Education Committee will conduct a public hearing on the following proposed bills...more
We have previously written in these pages about the development of “guidelines” or “standards” by the State Board of Education for the provision of educational opportunities for expelled students. Having had just a (teeny)...more
In 2016, Connecticut’s General Assembly passed Public Act 16-147: AN ACT CONCERNING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUVENILE JUSTICE POLICY AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE. This Act made several changes to school discipline laws which...more
The Connecticut General Assembly enacted a number of laws during its 2017 regular session that will impact Connecticut schools. Among other things, bills have been enacted that: (1) “repeal and replace” last year’s radical...more
The Connecticut General Assembly enacted a number of laws during its regular session that will impact Connecticut schools and public-sector employers. Among other things, bills have been enacted that...more
The 2017 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly concluded at midnight, June 7, 2017, without accomplishing its most important task (passing a budget). As such, the General Assembly will eventually have to convene...more
The General Assembly’s Education Committee is beginning the process of approving bills. The following is a listing (with a brief description) of the proposed bills that Education Committee voted favorably on and advanced...more
A lot of heat is emanating from Washington D.C. over enforcement of laws concerning “undocumented” immigrants. Especially controversial is the possibility of greater action by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement...more
On January 4, the 2017 session of the Connecticut General Assembly began. The session is scheduled to adjourn on June 7, 2017. One can assume that a plethora of proposed bills affecting Connecticut school districts will be...more
On May 13, 2016, with much fanfare, the United States Department of Justice and the United States Department of Education jointly issued a “Dear Colleague Letter” [“DCL”] in order to provide guidance for school districts with...more
5/24/2016
/ Colleges ,
Dear Colleague Letter ,
Department of Education ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
FERPA ,
Gender Identity ,
Public Schools ,
School Restrooms ,
Sexual Orientation Discrimination ,
Student Athletes ,
Students ,
Title IX ,
Transgender ,
Universities