Legal News & Updates

Robbins Schwartz has pioneered defining the practice of education law as a singular discipline. As we continue to expand our services, we stay involved in the ongoing development and evolution of the law.

Latest Updates & News

Schools and Park Districts Only Granted More Time to Comply with Cook County Paid Leave Ordinance

The Board of Commissioners recently passed a revised version of the Paid Leave Ordinance amendment exempting school districts and park districts from the ordinance’s requirements. Read more about the update in our latest law alert.

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International Women’s Day

Happy International Women’s Day to all the incredible women making a difference worldwide! Your courage, determination, and compassion inspire us all.

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EEOC Issues Fact Sheet on Anti-Arab, Anti-Middle Eastern, Anti-Muslim, and Antisemitic Workplace Discrimination and Harassment

The EEOC recently released a Fact Sheet clarifying the Title VII protections amid the workplace and campus tensions linked to conflict in the Middle East. Learn more about their resource in our most recent law alert.

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Women’s History Month – March 2024

Join us in honoring the strength and grace of women this Women’s History Month.

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Update on Proposed Amendment to Exclude Schools and Park Districts from County Paid Leave Ordinance

The Legislative and Intergovernmental Relations Committee recently deferred voting on the proposed amendment to Paid Leave Ordinance. Read more about the updated in our latest law alert.

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Supreme Court Allows High School Admissions Policy Designed to Promote Diversity

On February 20, 2024, the Supreme Court declined to review whether a Virginia high school’s 2020 revised admissions policy, which aimed at fostering student diversity, constituted racial discrimination. Read more about the revised policy in our latest law alert.

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Delayed Implementation of New Concussion Education, Oversight and Protocols for Schools

On August 17, 2015, we issued an In Brief[1] regarding the newly enacted Illinois School Code Section 22-80, which further addresses concussion education, oversight, and protocols. With the exception of the training obligations for…

Community Colleges Have New Aspirational Goals for Contracts Awarded to Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities

The Business Enterprise for Minorities, Females, and Persons with Disabilities Act, 30 ILCS 575/0.01 et. seq. (the “Business Enterprise Act” or “Act”) provides aspirational goals for the percentage of certain State…

Illinois Supreme Court Affirms Decision That School Districts are Subject to Municipal Zoning Regulations

The Illinois Supreme Court recently issued its long-awaited decision in Gurba v. Community High School District No. 155, 2015 IL 118332, affirming the Second District and Circuit Court’s decisions finding that Community…

New IL Supreme Court Case Heightens Need For Municipal Vigilance In Intervening On Pension Board Proceedings

In its latest ruling on the Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA), 820 ILCS 320/10, the Illinois Supreme Court strengthened its prior ruling on the finding of a “catastrophic” injury for purposes…

Governor Signs Legislation Setting Limitations on Community College Employment Contracts

On September 22, 2015, Governor Rauner signed House Bill 3593 into law as Public Act 99-0482.  As reported in our July 2015 Law Alert, this law adds a new section to The…

SB 100 Significantly Alters School Districts’ Authority and Procedures for Issuing Exclusionary Discipline

On August 24, 2015, Senate Bill 100 (“SB 100”) was signed by Governor Rauner into law as Public Act 99-456. Effective September 15, 2016, SB 100 fundamentally alters the authority of…

New Requirements Make it Harder for Parents/Guardians to Object to Mandated Health Examinations and Immunizations Based on Religious Grounds

Governor Rauner recently signed Public Act 99-249 into law, which amends Section 27-8.01(8) of the Illinois School Code to make it harder for parents/guardians to object to mandated health examinations and immunizations…

Legislature Overhauls Concussion Education, Oversight and Protocols for School Districts

Despite, and without amending, existing laws in Illinois related to concussion and head injury prevention and detection, the legislature passed a law which adds a new Section 22-80 to the Illinois…

School Building Safety and Security Will Be a Permissible Subject for Closed Session

On August 3, 2015, Governor Rauner signed House Bill 1498 into law as Public Act 99-0235, which amends an existing exception for closed session discussion by a public body under…

Upcoming PERA Deadline of November 1, 2015

For most school districts in Illinois, the 2015-2016 school year marks the beginning of the process for incorporating the use of data and indicators on student growth into teacher evaluations. …