Recently, the Public Access Counselor (PAC) issued a new binding opinion concerning the Open Meetings Act (OMA). In the opinion, the PAC determined that three city council members did not violate the OMA when they exchanged emails about public business, […]
Category: K-12 Education
U.S. Department of Education Releases New Guidance Regarding FERPA and Student Health Records
May 16, 2023
The United States Department of Education (DOE) recently released two new guidance documents focused on student health records to remind schools of their continued obligations to protect students’ rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA, administered […]
The Era of Fully Remote Board Meetings Is Over: Returning to Pre-COVID Remote Attendance Requirements
May 16, 2023
As we announced on our blog last week, Governor Pritzker’s COVID-19 disaster proclamation ended on May 11. This signals the end of optional remote attendance at meetings and a return to pre-COVID era requirements for remote participation under the Open […]
Checklist for End of Covid Health Emergency
May 11, 2023
Governor Pritzker’s disaster proclamation, declaring a public health emergency due to COVID-19, ends today, May 11, 2023. As a result, COVID-leave rights, and other rights contingent upon the Governor’s public health emergency declaration, will also end. Identified below are some […]
Checklist for End of COVID Health Emergency
May 11, 2023
Governor Pritzker’s disaster proclamation, declaring a public health emergency due to COVID-19, ends today, May 11, 2023. As a result, COVID-leave rights, and other rights contingent upon the Governor’s public health emergency declaration, will also end. Identified below are some […]
Originally posted to our Title IX Insights blog. On April 6, the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released its much-anticipated proposed Title IX rule on the eligibility of students for participation in athletic programs based on their […]
PAC Issues 2022 Annual Report, Summarizing Significant Binding and Non-Binding Opinions
April 10, 2023
The Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) recently issued its Annual Report, which provides an overview of binding PAC opinions and non-binding determination letters issued in 2022, among other topics. We reported on several of the binding opinions identified in the Annual […]
PAC Issues Binding Opinion Regarding Public Business Discussions at Informal “Meet and Greet”
March 30, 2023
Recently, the Public Access Counselor (PAC) issued a binding opinion concerning the Open Meetings Act (OMA). In the decision, the PAC found that the public body violated the OMA by holding an improper meeting when it hosted a “meet and […]