In a rare binding opinion, the Public Access Counselor (PAC)—the division of the Attorney General that reviews appeals regarding the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA)—issued a new binding opinion clarifying remote meeting requirements under the OMA, finding that public bodies […]
ISBE Releases New Rules and Goals & Benchmarks Regarding Use of Isolated Time Out, Time Out, and Physical Restraint
January 26, 2022
Originally posted on our Special Education Insights Blog. Over the summer, we reported on the passage of Public Act 102-0339, which aims to reduce and the use of time out, isolated time out, and physical restraint (referred to herein as “restrictive interventions”) in schools. […]
Illinois Adopts New Laws Targeting Appropriate Staff-Student Boundaries and Prevention of Sexual Abuse in Schools
January 26, 2022
Governor Pritzker recently signed Public Act 102-0676 (HB 1975) into law, which addresses sexual abuse prevention in schools. The new law is intended to address staff-student boundaries and appropriate professional conduct, the risks of breaches of staff-student boundaries, and training […]
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker released an official statement yesterday vetoing HB 2778 and announcing in its place a joint initiative reflecting a compromise with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the Illinois Education Association, and other stakeholders intended to keep students […]
Supreme Court Halts Vax-or-Test for Large Employers, Allow Vax Requirement for Healthcare Workers
January 14, 2022
In companion decisions, the U.S. Supreme Court split on the issue of mandatory vaccinations for workers, halting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for private sector employers with 100 or more employees and allowing the […]
Governor, IDPH, and ISBE Shorten Isolation and Quarantine Timeframes and Release Updated Guidance Documents
January 13, 2022
After announcing last week its plans to adopt the CDC’s new recommended shortened timeframes for exclusion, the IDPH and ISBE released several new guidance documents making such changes. The new guidance documents, as well as a new Executive Order, adopt […]
ISBE Takes Steps to Increase Access to Residential Placements
January 13, 2022
Originally posted on our Special Education Insights Blog. In response to the chronic and acute shortage of approved residential placements for Illinois students with special needs, ISBE announced on Monday two steps to provide some, limited relief. According to a letter from the ISBE […]
OSERS Guidance on Assistive Technology
January 3, 2022
Originally posted on our Special Education Insights Blog. In this third blog post in our series on the OSERS Question and Answer document on IDEA requirements related to returning to in-person instruction, we are focusing on an issue of special importance during […]