We want to remind our Chicago clients that the City of Chicago ordinance mandating paid leave becomes effective July 1, 2024.  Unlike the State Paid Leave for All Workers Act (820 ILCS 192), the City ordinance clearly requires Chicago employers to establish and administer separate Paid Leave and Paid Sick Leave…

On January 16, 2024, the United States Supreme Court declined to review a Seventh Circuit case ruling in favor of a transgender student and his family challenging a restroom policy at an Indiana public school district.  This means that the decision of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals finding that the…

On July 24, 2023, Cook County Judge Anna Loftus issued a permanent injunction on behalf of Urban Prep Academies, which was represented by Petrarca, Gleason, Boyle & Izzo attorneys, Eric Grodsky and Eric Bernard.  CPS sought to close both of Urban Prep Academies’ campuses at the conclusion of the 2022-2023 school…

NEW REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO EXCESS FUND ACCUMULATIONS   A new law recently signed by Governor Pritzker will require school districts to report and avoid excess accumulation of money in their principal operating funds.  Public Act 103-0394 has added Section 17-1.10 to the School Code.  This law will affect each district’s annual budget…

Urban Prep Academies won a significant legal victory on June 23, 2023, with the assistance of attorneys Eric Grodsky and Eric Bernard.  The First District Appellate Court granted Urban Prep Academies’ motion for a temporary restraining order against Chicago Public Schools (CPS).  The order prevents CPS from closing the Urban Prep-Bronzeville…

As of May 11, 2023, the COVID-19 public health emergency disaster proclamation declared by Governor Pritzker has ended. The expiration of this declaration also ends many of the rights afforded to individuals and school districts that were contingent upon it. Below are some of the key areas immediately affected by this…

On April 6, 2023, the US Department of Education issued its proposed regulation under Title IX concerning students’ eligibility for athletic teams. The proposed regulation would be added to 34 C.F.R. §106.41 as (b)(2), and provides as follows: If a recipient adopts or applies sex-related criteria that would limit or deny…

U.S. SUPREME COURT RULES THAT IDEA’S EXHAUSTION REQUIREMENT DOES NOT PRECLUDE PLAINTIFF’S ADA CLAIM BECAUSE THE RELIEF SOUGHT IS NOT AVAILABLE UNDER IDEA Perez v. Sturgis Pub. Sch., No. 21-887 (U.S. Mar. 21, 2023) The Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision on March 21, 2023, holding that a plaintiff may seek…

REMINDER ABOUT BOARD ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS   Pursuant to a recent amendment to the School Code, every school board now has until 40 days after the consolidated election to hold its organizational meeting for electing officers and setting a meeting schedule. 105 ILCS 5/10-10. School boards previously had a shorter period of…