Since early 2025, the U.S. Department of Education (“Department”), under Secretary Linda McMahon, has implemented several significant policy changes affecting K-12 education. For example, the Department has taken steps to...more
A landmark court ruling puts public school officials and their employees on notice: Enforce a clearly unconstitutional policy, and you may pay for it personally. The US Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit just ruled that...more
In Bell v. Wilkinsburg Sch. Dist., No. 23 WAP 2024, 2026 Pa. LEXIS 92 (Pa. Jan. 21, 2026), the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that Section 1726-A(a) of the Charter School Law (“CSL”), 24 P.S. § 17-1726-A(a), permits a...more
An interesting labor law jurisdictional issue is brewing here in Sacramento. On January 10, teachers and other employees at the St. HOPE Public Charter Schools submitted an RD Petition with Region 20 of the National Labor...more
The state Supreme Court has ruled that school districts in Pennsylvania may provide different forms of free transportation to charter school students than they provide for the district’s own schools. In Bell v....more
Court Upholds Hearing Officer’s Decision and Grants Full Attorneys’ Fees After School Misses IDEA Appeal Deadline - A.L.L., A.L. v. Laboratory Charter School, 2025 WL 3269941 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 24, 2025) - The parent, A.L., filed...more
Beginning January 1, 2026, local public agencies across California must comply with several updates to the Ralph M. Brown Act’s (“Brown Act”) open meeting and teleconferencing rules under Senate Bill (“SB”) 707 (2025). The...more
On November 6, 2025, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a new state law (Senate Bill No. 246) that requires schools to notify parents, guardians, and school employees about any incidents involving a weapon on school...more
To prevent the imminent shutdown of a charter school, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ordered Penn Hills School District to make an immediate payment of $793,965.29 to the Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship....more
A charter school's lawsuit against Pennsylvania education officials could alter the funding requirements imposed on school districts under the Charter School Law (CSL). In the case, Penn Hills Charter School of...more
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping public education in Tennessee, presenting both opportunities and legal challenges for local education agencies (LEAs) and charter schools. In 2024, the Tennessee General...more
With the 2025–26 school year underway, new legal requirements for California public schools are now in effect. These changes span instructional supports, student health and safety, transportation, governance, and employee...more
Despite Governor Josh Shapiro’s (D) authorization of the use of infrastructure dollars to provide transit agencies with short-term operating support, which removed a major point of contention in negotiations, the budget...more
AB 932 proposes several amendments to Government Code section 53080 relating to sex or gender discrimination in community youth athletics programs. This bill was introduced by Assembly Member Jacqui Irwin, and is sponsored by...more
Mayor Parker, Council President Johnson Reviving 90s-Era Collaboration -Over the first year in their respective positions, Mayor Cherelle Parker and City Council President Kenyatta Johnson have intentionally worked to build a...more
Gov. Shapiro Urges Moral Clarity After Minnesota Lawmaker’s Assassination - Following the politically motivated killing of Minnesota House Leader Melissa Hortman and the shooting of state Senator John Hoffman, Pennsylvania...more
On May 22, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a per curiam decision in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, resulting in a 4-4 split due to the recusal of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. The Court’s split decision...more
Gov. Shapiro Launches “Deliberative Polling” to Foster Bipartisan Dialogue -Governor Josh Shapiro (D) launched a three-day deliberative polling event in Philadelphia aimed at encouraging informed, cross-partisan discussions...more
FY26 Budget Negotiations Entering HOME Stretch - Thursday marks the final opportunity for the City Council to advance bills—including those tied to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $6.7 billion proposed budget and Housing...more
The State of Oklahoma has a charter school law similar in many respects to New York’s Charter Schools Act. Like in New York, Oklahoma charter schools are authorized by a state board via charter agreements between the state...more
Federal Funding Uncertainties Send PA Budget Talks into Limbo - State lawmakers are struggling to agree on funding priorities in time to meet the budget deadline of June 30 as federal uncertainties in transit, education, and...more
As the academic year is now wrapping up, we hope that the final weeks of school have been relatively stress free, and that our clients are now looking forward to some slower summer days. Here at Franczek, we have continued to...more
In a one-sentence, 4-to-4 per curiam decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court's ruling that approval of a religious school's participation in the state's charter school program would violate the...more
On May 22, 2025, the United States Supreme Court issued a one-sentence order affirming the judgment of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in the consolidated cases of Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond, and St....more
On Thursday, May 22, the Supreme Court of the United States issued two decisions: Kousisis v. United States, No. 23-909: This case addresses the elements of the federal wire fraud statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1343....more