Bullying in the Workplace: L&E Case Study
As the school year begins, parents often focus on purchasing supplies, setting routines, and ensuring their child is ready for the academic challenges ahead. However, a crucial aspect that should not be overlooked is...more
On November 15, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s (“Department”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) released new civil rights data from the 2020-2021 school year, as well as seven data reports and snapshots which provide...more
This week, the Court considers when the First Amendment limits the ability to discipline students for private off-campus speech. The Court holds that a public school may, consistent with the First Amendment, discipline...more
Earlier this week, the Mitchell Williams education law blog reported on a school that recently was found to have run afoul of the First Amendment when they suspended a student for bullying. First Amendment issues in the...more
Schools sometimes find themselves needing to walk a fine but complicated line, whereby they curtail bullying but also balance the right to free speech. One recent case illustrates this point. A high school sophomore...more
For the first time, a court used a civil rights law to hold a school district financially accountable in a case of student bullying. In the recent case of Cohen v. Philadelphia School District, the court awarded $500,000 to a...more
A Pennsylvania Judge has ordered the School District of Pennsylvania to pay $500,000, plus attorney fees, to the family of a former student who claimed the school district failed to prevent severe bullying over her gender...more
Russell Bittendender, et ux. v. Bangor Area School District, Case No. 15-6465 (E.D. Pa. 2017). The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania refused to dismiss a complaint alleging that a school...more
A set of bills, recently enrolled and awaiting the Governor's signature, will radically alter the landscape of student disciplinary action in Michigan. House Bills 5618, 5619, 5620, 5621, 5693, 5694 and 5695 (collectively,...more
In Mulvey v. Carl Sandberg High School et al., a family sued its school district and various district officials and coaches alleging breach of contract for the District’s alleged failure to enforce the anti-bullying policies...more
In Stiles v. Granger County Board of Education, the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed dismissal of a Title IX lawsuit against a public school district because the alleged victim of harassment and bullying...more
In Missouri, a 17-year-old student who was born male, but has identified as female since he was 13, chose to use the girls’ locker room during gym class. That decision sparked outrage in the school community and led to...more
The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) was busy the last quarter of 2014, issuing guidance on six issues, plus another already in 2015. The Dear Colleague Letters (DCL), Frequently Asked Questions, and Fact Sheets provide an...more
School bullying is one of the most pressing social, health, and educational concerns facing public and private schools alike. Long-term bullying, left unaddressed by schools or parents, can cause lasting physical and...more
I recently attended a meeting where Charles Krich, the Principal Attorney for the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (“CHRO”), spoke about the future of the agency. Attorney Krich stated that the agency...more
Two new laws require school districts and charter schools to reconsider their approach to bullying. The first new bullying law requires school boards and charter schools to make extensive revisions to their bullying policies....more
Anti-bullying laws may now have a significant impact on what is considered to be “emotional abuse” in schools. Recently, the Connecticut Supreme Court concluded that a teacher’s bullying behavior toward a student met the...more
On May 14, 2014, in J.G.S. v. Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County held that the parents of a minor student could proceed with their lawsuit against the school...more
While the Freedom of Information Act [“FOIA”] generally seeks to provide access to records created by public agencies, and while anti-bullying laws require that parents be notified by a school district with regard to the...more
The Illinois Appellate Court recently held that a superintendent, principal, and board of education were immune from liability for a parent’s claims regarding the alleged bullying of her daughter. In Hascall v. Williams,...more
A school district’s failure to properly address bullying of students with disabilities could result in a denial of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for those students. This is the message clearly conveyed to school...more
Ruling Strengthens Ability of School Districts to Suspend and Expel Students to Protect Students and Staff - Recognizing the increasing difficulties school administrators face in evaluating potential threats of...more
On August 20, 2013, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) released a “Dear Colleague Letter” providing an overview of school districts’ responsibilities under the Individuals with Disabilities...more