Students with disabilities deserve to be treated fairly in education. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires public elementary and secondary schools to handle discipline in a non-discriminatory way. Yet, students with disabilities are frequently...
Education Law
How do we get more mental health counselors in schools?
The last couple of years have been taxing for kids’ mental health. The pandemic, isolation, online schooling and other issues have disrupted kids’ lives, their learning and their relationships. Now, over 40% of teenagers report struggling with persistent sadness or...
Has Title IX made school sports gender-equal? No, says NCAA report
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 turned 50 years old this year. The law prohibits gender-based discrimination in any school or education program funded by the federal government. It is most widely known for its effect on sports in the American education...
Researchers: federal IDEA funding plan needs to be updated
The current formula for providing federal funding for students with disabilities is inequitable and needs to be changed, according to two recent studies. Even if the federal government came through with the $38 billion it owes to states to educate students with...
Shortage of fully licensed special education teachers in 48 states
Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, kids with disabilities have the right to access a fully licensed special educator. This school year, however, there is a shortage of licensed special education teachers in 48 states, including California....
New federal rule clarifies that LGBTQ bias is illegal in schools
The U.S. Department of Education has proposed new rules that clarify that Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits school-based discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Title IX uses the same statutory language, prohibiting...
What should schools do when students sexually harass one another?
When kids sexually harass each other, it can create a situation where the victims of the harassment can’t get their education safely. When schools don’t engage in a reasonable intervention, they can sometimes be held responsible for allowing a hostile educational...
Who controls test takers’ private data during remote proctoring?
Automated online proctoring of exams in the U.S. has exploded in popularity during the pandemic. Usage of remote proctors has jumped by 500% in the past two years alone, and over half of American higher education institutions are using them. For the most part,...
Should colleges and universities end legacy admissions altogether?
In response to the “Varsity Blues” scandal, California passed some college admissions reforms that took effect in 2020. One was to require California colleges and universities to disclose what percentage of their student body is admitted as legacy students – students...
Do California students have the right to take a knee at games?
Taking a knee during the national anthem is a way to protest racial inequality and police brutality in the United States. Former 49er Colin Kaepernick took a knee for years during his NFL career, and many, many other professional athletes have followed suit. Rapper...