by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Mar 31, 2020 | Education
On March 24, the Connecticut State Department of Education’s Bureau of Special Education (“BSE”) issued a Letter to Superintendents addressing the provision of continued educational opportunities and special education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based in part on...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Mar 30, 2020 | Education
On March 21, the United States Department of Education’s Offices for Civil Rights and Special Education Programs (“OCR” and “OSEP”) issued a joint guidance document affirming every school district’s obligation to continue providing a free appropriate public education...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Mar 27, 2020 | Education
School districts across the state are working hard to provide virtual learning opportunities to public school students while buildings remain closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Continuing education must, however, be provided in compliance with federal and state...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Mar 25, 2020 | Education
On March 10, 2020, Governor Ned Lamont declared a public health and civil preparedness emergency in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19). This declaration permits the Governor to issue a broad range of orders regarding public health and safety,...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Dec 3, 2019 | OFFICE OF THE CHILD ADVOCATE
In October 2019, the State of Connecticut Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) issued a letter offering significant preliminary recommendations for the prevention of child sexual abuse in public schools. The OCA was originally asked to conduct an independent outside...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Nov 26, 2019 | State of Connecticut Supreme Court Decisions
On July 30, 2019, the Connecticut Supreme Court decided a First Amendment free speech case with significant implications for both local and regional boards of education and institutions of higher education. In Haughwout v. Tordenti, 332 Conn. 559 (2019), the Court...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Mar 20, 2019 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
The IDEA currently requires a parent to “exhaust administrative remedies” before filing a complaint based on another statute, if the parent seeks relief that is available under the IDEA. In other words, a parent must file an IDEA due process complaint before filing a...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Feb 25, 2019 | Education
The United States Department of Education recently closed the public comment period for its proposed Title IX regulations, and school boards and administrators must be ready for significant changes in the coming months. The regulations, while not yet finalized, will...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Oct 31, 2018 | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Special Education
On October 9, 2018, the United States Supreme Court denied a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari filed by the parents of a West Hartford student eligible for special education and related services, thus concluding over four years of litigation surrounding the provision...
by John Y. Khalil, Esq. | Aug 15, 2018 | Firm News
If they have not already done so, school districts in Connecticut must take affirmative steps to align their policies and procedures with the State Department of Education’s (CSDE) Standards for Educational Opportunities for Students Who Have Been Expelled. ...
