Calvin D. Bill
Diane E. Metzger
Luke T. Phillips
Melanie Gurley KeeneyDepartment of Education Announces Proposed Rule on Transgender Student Participation in Athletics
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Mandi D. Moutray
Veronica E. PotterTueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt P.C. Ranked in 2023 “Best Law Firms”
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, for the 13th consecutive year, announce the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms rankings. Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt P.C. has been ranked in the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list regionally in 6 practice areas.
read moreSupreme Court Rules in Favor of Praying Football Coach in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District
by Mark Timmerman Yesterday, the Supreme Court of the United States released its opinion in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. In 2015, an assistant football coach named Joseph Kennedy, at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington, was reprimanded by District administration for actions such as leading students in a pre-game prayer, conducting post-game talks that included religious content, and leading students in a prayer at the 50-yard line after games. The District, which is public, was concerned that his religious
read moreNew CDC Guidance Removes Mask Requirements for School Buses
Effective February 25, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) no longer requires the wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/child care programs. However, school districts may still require people to wear masks on buses or vans at their discretion.
read moreFederal Appeals Court Rules That Federal Law May Require Mask Mandates in Public Schools
James R. Laytonby Jim Layton In a suit brought by parents of children with serious disabilities, the St. Louis-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit upheld an injunction against an Iowa law barring mask mandates in public schools. The court held that “mask requirements are reasonable accommodations required by federal disability law to protect the rights of Plaintiffs’ children.” “Reasonable accommodations” for students (and staff) with disabilities are required by the federal Rehabilitation Act. Prior to the enactment of a
read moreEmergency Rules for Mandatory Vaccines for School Personnel
by Christine Self The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) filed a Notice of Emergency Rule Making today, September 17, 2021, to address mandatory vaccinations for school personnel, as required by Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2021-22. The Emergency Rules state that school personnel are required to have the first dose of a two-dose vaccine or the single dose vaccine by September 19, 2021, or submit to weekly testing in lieu of vaccination if vaccination is medically contraindicated
read moreTRO Denied in Sangamon County Illinois on Governor Pritzker’s Mask Order
by Christine Self In Sangamon County Court, Judge Raylene Grischow denied Plaintiffs’ request for a temporary restraining order (TRO) to enjoin Governor Pritzker’s August 4, 2021 mask requirement for schools. Plaintiffs are parents of students in McHenry County schools and they filed suit to stop Governor Pritzker’s mask mandate in Executive Order 2021-18 (extended in Executive Order 2021-19). Plaintiffs requested an emergency TRO and preliminary injunction in McHenry County and the case was transferred to Sangamon County on motion of
read moreDepartment of Education Releases Questions and Answers on Title IX Regulations
by Veronica Potter On July 20, 2021, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) published it’s Questions and Answers on the Title IX Regulations on Sexual Harassment (“Q&A”). This resource contains a series of questions and answers regarding the regulations on Title IX that went into effect on August 14, 2020 (“2020 Regulations”), as well as excerpts of example policies from elementary, secondary, and postsecondary institutions. In a blog
read moreWeighing Conviction History in Illinois Employment Decisions
by Christine Self Amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act (“IHRA”) that took effect March 23, 2021, make it a civil rights violation for an employer to use an individual’s conviction record “as a basis to refuse to hire, to segregate, or to act with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, renewal of employment, selection for training or apprenticeship, discharge, discipline, tenure or terms, privileges or conditions of employment unless: (1) there is a substantial relationship between one or more of
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