harassment

Ninth Circuit Affirmed Summary Judgment for School District in Challenge to Student Expulsion on First Amendment Grounds

In Chen v. Albany School District, the 9th Circuit affirmed the District Court’s decision, rejecting First Amendment free speech claims of students against the school and school officials after students were disciplined for what they alleged to be private, off-campus, social media posts.

Recognizing and Responding to Discrimination and Harassment Complaints Consistent with Board Policy

Increasingly, issues of legally-compliant responses to discrimination claims turn on the school district's initial recognition that the alleged conduct falls under the umbrella of discrimination.  Too often, a school district's informal and poorly documented response to a situation (even a situation where there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of discrimination) is problematic due

School District Prevails on Tort and Contract Claim in Bullying Case, but Court Notes Discretionary Responsibility for School

In a case filed and litigated before the implementation of the new student disciplinary law (SB100 or Public Act 99-456), Mulvey v. Carl Sandburg High Sch., 2016 IL App (1st) 151615, the court analyzed whether a school district had tort liability due to alleged bullying, and whether an bullying prevention policy and a progressive disciplinary policy created an enforceable contract with a parent and child when the child was allegedly bullied.