Leading in a Lonely World Podcast: Meet Jamie Pagliaro, a Leader Who has Made His “Passion” for Helping Others His Life’s Work
Top 10 Actions (or Inactions), that Spur Special Education Impartial Hearing Requests for School Districts
Pennsylvania Recognizes 15 Postsecondary Institutions for Efforts to Support Student Mental Health and Prevent Suicide - Pennsylvania Department of Education Press Release - May 27, 2025 - Philadelphia, PA - At Temple...more
In its recently adjourned session, the General Assembly passed two major bills regarding special education. Although the Governor has not yet signed these bills, we wanted to provide a brief and non-exhaustive overview of the...more
A New Initiative to Support Transition from Early Intervention to Kindergarten - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) and the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) jointly launched a new initiative known...more
Commonwealth Court Rules Sexual Abuse Provision of Government Immunity Under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act Is Limited to Persons Under the Age of 18 - W. on behalf of S.W. v. Pittsburgh Pub. Sch., 327 A.3d 340...more
Happy New Year! Several Illinois laws related to schools became effective January 1, 2025, and our team at Franczek P.C. has compiled them in its new School Law Legislative Update, focused on new laws in effect in 2025. A PDF...more
On May 16, 2024, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court overturned a Pennsylvania Department of Education (“PDE”) regulation stating special education students are entitled to a free and appropriate public education until the...more
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has signed into law several changes to the Pennsylvania School Code. Here are some highlights from Act 55 of 2022, and the impact it will have on school entities in the Commonwealth....more
Thursday marked the halfway point to Crossover Day, and members of the House Appropriations Committee got to work early approving their version of the Amended FY23 Budget. Although the House is proposing minimal changes...more
The 2021 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly concluded on June 9, 2021, but the primary source of action on education law issues was a special session of the General Assembly and ensuing “budget implementer”...more
Under a new law, Pennsylvania will add an option for an additional year of special education eligibility for students who would otherwise age-out this summer and permit parents of all students the option to repeat the grade...more
On May 30, 2021, SB1577 passed both houses and, if signed by the Governor, will amend the School Code to reflect that the mental or behavioral health of a student is a “valid cause” for absence from school. Currently, valid...more
Just hours before the conclusion of the spring legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly passed two bills that will significantly impact students who receive services until age 22. The first, HB40, impacts students...more
Less than a year ago, Public Act 101-0515 sent Illinois special educators scrambling to comply with an array of new procedural requirements. Now, as if you aren’t dealing with enough challenges related to remote learning and...more
In the wake of Governor Pritzker’s recent order requiring all Illinois schools to close between March 17 and March 30, many schools and school districts have been left guessing how to best serve students with disabilities and...more
After hearing a State of the Judiciary Address from Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton focused on improving access to justice across the state and increasing cybersecurity in the courts, legislators embarked on...more
The Georgia House and Senate chambers were abuzz today as skies cleared and legislators continued to settle into a steady pace of floor action. ...more
On February 5, 2020, the 2020 session of the Connecticut General Assembly began. The session is scheduled to adjourn on May 6, 2020. Numerous proposed bills affecting Connecticut’s schools will be unleashed during the...more
IAASE recently reported that HB 3897 is currently making its way through the Illinois legislative process. This bill would expand special education eligibility to students through the school year in which they turn 22....more
On July 30, 2019, the Michigan Department of Education (“MDE”) sent a Memorandum to the State Board of Education (“SBE”) enclosing Proposed Standards for the Preparation and Practice of Special Education Administrators. ...more
You know from our previous post regarding recent legislation in Illinois, we have had our eye on House Bill 3586, which has been awaiting the Governor’s signature since June. Well, the time has come; Governor Pritzker signed...more
On August 16, 2019, the New York State Education Department (“SED”) released additional guidance on implementing the recent changes to New York state’s Public Health Law, which repealed the religious exemption from...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