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Strip Search by School Officials Was Unconstitutional

Strip Search by School Officials Was Unconstitutional

Last week, the Supreme Court decided Safford Unified School District #1 et. al. v. Redding, the “strip-search” case. The Supreme Court followed the precedent it created in New Jersey v. T.L.O., which set forth the reasonable suspicion standard for school searches, ultimately holding that the strip-search of the student in this case was unreasonable and violated the Fourth Amendment. Under T.L.O.’s reasonable suspicion […]

Free Cyberbullying Curriculum Available from NSBA

Free Cyberbullying Curriculum Available from NSBA

A free curriculum is available from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) to address cyberbullying issues at NSBA.  NSBA partnered with a group called CyberSmart to produce this curriculum (reported to be “research-based” for those concerned about those things), and it is described on the NSBA website as addressing all of the major issues:  In developing these lessons, […]

Sad Reminder of Why We Have Anti-Bullying Laws

Sad Reminder of Why We Have Anti-Bullying Laws

Parents sue Ohio school over bullied son’s suicide Associated Press; Fri Apr 3, 11:48 am ET MENTOR, Ohio – An Ohio couple has filed a lawsuit saying school officials failed to stop bullying that they claim led to their 17-year-old son’s suicide. The suit was filed in federal court last week, almost two years to the day when Eric […]

U.S. Department of Education Issues Revised FAQ on Section 504

U.S. Department of Education Issues Revised FAQ on Section 504

On March 27, 2009, the United States Department of Education issued a revised version of its document entitled Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities, updating it to include new information about the implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments (ADAA) effective January 1, 2009.  In addition to the […]

SDOE Issues Memo on School Bullying Requirements

SDOE Issues Memo on School Bullying Requirements

A long-awaited memorandum from the State Department of Education describes in bullet-points the Department’s interpretation of the recent changes to the anti-bullying legislation found in Title 10 of the Connecticut General Statutes, and also adds a further gloss in the form of “best practices” for school districts to follow to improve school climate.  Among the […]

Key Revisions to FERPA Regulations

Key Revisions to FERPA Regulations

Final revisions to the FERPA regulations were published December 9, 2008 in the Federal Register.  Key changes include the following: “Attendance” at a school for purposes of protection under FERPA includes attendance in person or by correspondence or electronic means for purposes of students not able to be physically present in the classroom; A definition of […]