School and Higher Education
What’s Next for Employers: OSHA’s Vaccine and Testing Mandate

What’s Next for Employers: OSHA’s Vaccine and Testing Mandate

On Tuesday, November 16, 2021, litigation pending in several federal circuits regarding the federal vaccine/testing mandate described below was consolidated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  Below, we summarize the mandate, discuss the various court developments, and provide guidance as to steps employers could take while the...

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IRS Issues Guidance to Employers to Claim Tax Credits for Voluntary Leave Related to COVID-19 and the Vaccine

Department of Education New Title IX Regulations

In the midst of the global pandemic, the United States Department of Education (DOE) updated its Title IX guidance and recently issued accompanying final regulations. In 2017, United States Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos revoked Obama-era Title IX guidance. On May 6, 2020, Secretary DeVos released the final regulations relating to...

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Special Education Considerations in the Virtual Education Setting

Special Education Considerations in the Virtual Education Setting

By: Anthony J. Steffek and Abby S. Busler In light of the recent extension of school closures through the end of this school year, this article will review additional guidance from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) regarding the issue of Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for special education students during virtual learning:...

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CARES Act: Educational Impact for School Districts

By: Abby S. Busler The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act includes among its many provisions specific funding sources for Wisconsin school districts. This includes a Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund and an Elementary Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund. The CARES Act also created a higher education relief fund,...

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Updates Regarding Families First Coronavirus Response Act Date Change

By: Abby S. Busler Recently, the Department of Labor (DOL) began issuing guidance and posters regarding the upcoming Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which includes the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLA). Most importantly, the initial start date has changed, and the FFCRA...

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$2 Trillion Stimulus CARES Act – Educational and Labor Impacts

By: Abby S. Busler While the majority of provisions in the CARES Act address loans and stimulus plans for individuals and businesses, the CARES Act also enacts additional legislation directly impacting schools and amends the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The Act sets forth approximately $13.5 billion dollars through formula...

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FAPE During a Pandemic, What Does it Mean?

By: Abby S. Busler School Districts across the state are experiencing an upheaval of all that is normal and forced to react and adapt to the “new” normal.  On March 24, 2020, Governor Evers set forth Emergency Order #12, issuing a Stay At Home order.  That order specifically directed that schools will not be open until April 24, 2020. Many school...

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Are You an “Essential Business” in Wisconsin Under the Safer At Home Order?

By: Mark G. Kmiecik, Abby S. Busler and Ryan M. Spott The State of Wisconsin has joined several other states in shutting down all nonessential businesses with its newly issued Safer At Home Order, which is effective at 8:00 a.m on Wednesday, March 25, 2020, and will remain in effect until 8:00 a.m on Friday, April 24, 2020, or until a superseding...

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School District COVID-19 Update and Resources

The current COVID-19 health emergency has confronted school districts with a wide variety of serious challenges.  The purpose of this article is to compile useful information pertaining to several key recurring topics and serve as a reference tool.  Italicized items are excerpts from the source documents linked below.  Given the fast moving...

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