Kriha Boucek Announces the Promotion of Cassie Black and Elizabeth Kelly to Partner Kriha Boucek is excited to announce the promotion of two talented attorneys, Cassie Black and Elizabeth Kelly, to Partner. This will be effective January 1, 2025. Both Cassie and Elizabeth bring unique perspectives, experience, and dedication to the firm’s mission of supporting [...]
First Friday September Edition: 2024 OCR Update
First Friday September Edition, where we discussed crucial Student Issues and the latest Title IX updates! Chas Griffin delivered an essential 2024 OCR Update, from the basics of OCR to the ins and outs of an OCR Compliance review. Stay ahead of the curve—download the slides from this informative session now for a refresher: KB [...]
First Friday September Edition: Bullying Checklist
This month's First Friday September Edition focused on Student Issues and Title IX Updates. This informative session dove into the complexities of bullying, offering legal insights and a step-by-step Bullying Checklist to help schools address and prevent issues effectively. Download your copy: KB Bullying Checklist Kriha Boucek is your trusted partner in education law, committed [...]
Customized Training for your District
Kriha Boucek is a full-service education law firm. Our attorneys provide quality services to school districts, Board members, administrators, faculty, and staff. As a firm, we are dedicated to supporting school districts and providing valuable professional development. As the legal landscape continues to shift, our attorneys stand ready to counsel, advise, and train the education [...]
OCR Title VI Fact Sheet
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Title VI Fact Sheet on July 2, 2024, addressing the uptick in complaints alleging discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in PK-12 school districts and colleges/universities. The Fact Sheet was issued in direct response to protests held on school campuses (mostly post-secondary) in the wake [...]
Chevron Doctrine Overruled
On June 28, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court limited the power of federal agencies (including the U.S. Department of Education) by overturning the ‘Chevron doctrine’ which had been recognized since 1984. Chevron U. S. A. Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U. S. 837 (1984). The Chevron doctrine stood for the proposition that [...]
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) just released Residential Placement guidance document
Navigating residential placements can be complex, especially when considering factors such as student residency and district financial responsibility for educational services in a residential setting. We often get questions like, “Which district is responsible for providing or paying for educational services for a student who is placed in a residential setting by a state agency [...]
Title IX Amendments Issued by the U.S. Department of Education on April 19, 2024
On April 19, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education Releases Final Title IX Regulations, Providing Vital Protections Against Sex Discrimination. In addition to the rules, the DOE issued a fact sheet, analysis of changes, and sample policies. For a look at the major changes to the law and a few resources open the newsletter [...]
PAC Clarifies Public Recital Requirements in Non-Disciplinary Personnel Actions:
In a non-binding opinion issued on November 2, 2023, the Public Access Counsel (PAC) determined that a Board of Education did not violate the Open Meeting Act’s (OMA) public recital requirement when it did not recite the name of the probationary employees being non-renewed prior to voting on the action. (2023 PAC 76897) The matter [...]
Faith’s Law and the Role of Child Advocacy Centers (CAC) in Illinois
Faith’s Law is a new Illinois statute first passed in 2021 with a comprehensive trailer bill in 2023. The employment aspects of the statute have received most of the attention, but school districts are also required to notify parents/guardians about the availability of the ISBE Faith’s Law Resource Guide at the beginning of each school [...]