People who identify as Black alone make up 12.4% of the U.S. population, but only 5% of active physicians in the U.S. identify as Black. That’s a problem because a lack of Black doctors contributes to poorer health outcomes among Black patients. Unfortunately, Black...
San Francisco Law Blog
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...
DOJ: discrimination against opioid treatment patients violates the ADA
We’ve long known that drug addiction is an impairment covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). That means that employers, law enforcement, jails, healthcare providers and others are prohibited from discriminating against people who suffer from substance...
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...
Minor league baseball players don’t earn minimum wage. Should that change?
Minor league baseball players are specifically exempt from federal minimum wage and overtime requirements – but that doesn’t mean they’re exempt from California’s wage and hour law system. Indeed, a federal magistrate judge in Northern California recently ruled that...
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,...
Will Apple agree to an independent audit of its work practices?
Apple Inc. has long aspired to be a champion for civil rights, but critics say the technology giant fails to maintain an adequately diverse workforce, particularly in higher paid, higher-power positions. Some critics point to repeated reports of discriminatory...
Can one incident constitute illegal sexual harassment?
In certain circumstances, yes. This is because there are two types of sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Both types of sexual harassment involve unwelcome sexual conduct that is made a term or condition of employment. Both types are forms of...
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...