The new school year is upon us and kids are going back to in-person learning. That means that your children will have homework to tackle when they get home. Here are some easy ideas to make homework time less stressful for you and your kids. General Tips Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit…
Category: School Law
Parents: What to do if your child is caught cheating.
If glancing over at a classmate’s test answer or scribbling an equation on the back of a hand are what comes to mind when you hear about students cheating, you need to keep reading! Technology and the internet have provided a vast, changing, and increasingly confusing landscape that has blurred the lines for students…
Educators should carefully consider school policies regarding masking.
As you prepare your classrooms with supplies, fun stimuli, and all the accoutrements of a cozy room for fostering learning and creativity, let’s hope you also have time to prepare for the 2021-2022 school year mentally; not just for the continued repetitive phrases of “unprecedented times” and “socially distanced,” but also for the difficult…
Understanding Amended Ohio House Bill 244 – The Vaccine Discrimination Bill
With schools, masks, and vaccinations being at the top of many parent’s minds, the recently passed, soon to take effect Amended House Bill (H.B.) 244 has been the subject of much discussion. Set to take effect on October 13, 2021, the relevant amendment of H.B. 244 prohibits public schools from the following: Requiring any individual…
What is NIL and what does it mean for student athletes?
“NIL” has become THE hot acronym in college sports. It stands for “name, image, and likeness”, and describes rights that have now been recognized in Ohio through Executive Order 2021-10d, signed by Governor DeWine on June 28th of this year. The Order went into effect on July 1st. Simply put, Governor DeWine’s action now allows…
Public schools with “mask optional” policies risk losing immunity.
A. The Choice Boards of education in Ohio have been placed in a tough position to start the school year. Boards have been forced to choose whether to require masks for their students and employees. Schools were placed in this position because the state legislature effectively removed the power of the Governor and the…
Compensatory Education & Recovery Services
Compensatory Education & Recovery Services: COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS FOR STUDENTS ON IEPs & 504 Plans On March 12, 2020, Governor DeWine ordered all of Ohio’s public, community and private K-12 school buildings to be closed due to the ongoing coronavirus health crisis. If a school district closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and did not…
Updates on State Testing for Spring 2021: Ohio School Law
Does my child have to participate in spring testing? We can all agree that 2020 was a year like we have never experienced before. The educational institutions tried their best to accommodate the changing situation and help support students the best that they could. One of those ways was to forgo the traditional state testing…
Top 5: What parents NEED to talk about at the next IEP meeting!
AS THE SCHOOL YEAR MOVES ALONG AND “IEP SEASON” DRAWS NEAR, HERE ARE THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DISCUSS AT YOUR NEXT IEP MEETING (and yes, this blog was written in the wake of the COVID19 shutdown!)
Can I Leave Work to Attend an IEP Meeting?
FMLA LEAVE MAY BE AVAILABLE TO PARENTS TO ATTEND IEP MEETINGS On August 8, 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (“the DOL”) issued guidance on whether an employee may take protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (“FMLA”) to attend a meeting to discuss the Individualized Education Program (“IEP”) of the employee’s son or daughter. U.S. Dept. of Labor, WHD, FMLA 2019-2-A(August 8,…
K-12 Students: 3 Things To Do If You (Or Your Child) Are Suspended or Expelled from School
Written by Mark Weiker, Esq. from Albeit Weiker, LLP; education law attorney focused on student rights & father of two. Unfortunately, it remains the norm for primary and secondary schools throughout the country to use suspension and expulsion as a remedy for bad behavior, despite almost no evidence that removing students from the educational environment…
A Teacher’s Guide to Beating First Week Jitters
It’s about that time of year again. The time when the specialty sections of Kroger and Target are stocked with rainbow bins, cartoon backpacks, and discount Crayolas. The time when you frantically fill your calendar with shopping trips, haircuts, and last minute summer fun. That’s right–it’s back to school season! The bittersweet ending of summer…