On June 12, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools that public school students bringing disability discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are not required to meet a heightened “bad faith or gross misjudgment” standard. The Court held that […]
Weston Hurd to host Ed Law Seminar: Essential Legal Updates for Superintendents & Administrators on June 6! There is still time to register for this event! In partnership with BASA, Weston Hurd Education Law Group will present a full-day seminar on Friday, June 6, 2025. Speakers include: Eric Johnson, Megan Greulich, Peter Zawadski, Lisa Woloszynek, […]
The Ohio Department of Education & Workforce’s Office for Exceptional Children has released proposed revisions to the required and supplemental (formally optional) forms for special education student documentation. These form revisions include student Evaluation Team Report (ETR), Individualized Education Program (IEP), Prior Written Notice to Parents (PR-01), Manifestation Determination Review, and other related forms. Weston […]
On April 23, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies.” This Executive Order aims to reform school disciplinary practices by eliminating the influence of race and “discriminatory equity ideology” on student disciplinary decisions. In explaining the need for reform, the Order takes issues with a rescinded Department of […]
The Trump Administration has issued a series of Anti-DEI Executive Orders, and the Department of Education (“ED”) has taken steps to align their efforts with the administration’s priorities. On February 14, 2025, ED published a Dear Colleague Letter, that sought to explain the Department of Education’s interpretation of Title VI. ED then published their FAQs […]
On April 7, 2025, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE), issued notification of a new federal requirement for school districts to certify compliance (the “request for certification”) with U.S. civil rights laws. This is part of a nationwide requirement announced by USDOE on April […]
Dr. Paula E. Chan focuses her practice on school law, advising clients on issues related to special education, labor and employment, employment discrimination, student discipline, and disability accommodations. She has considerable experience planning and implementing civil rights investigations enforcing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VI, […]
On February 21, 2025, a Maryland federal district court blocked enforcement of key provisions of two of President Trump’s executive orders targeting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) policies and practices in the federal government, private sector, and educational institutions. The National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education and three other entities (DEIA Plaintiffs) […]
