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...
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:...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
By: Robert W. Burns and Abby S. Busler 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...
(1) COVID-19 Student Loan Impact As many Americans throughout the country participate in self-quarantine, mortgage and rent payments, heat and electricity payments and student loans continue to weigh heavily on smaller paychecks. In response to many citizens working a reduced schedule or temporarily losing employment, during this time of...
By: Abby S. Busler On March 13, 2020, just before 5:00pm Governor Evers issued an agency order mandating the closure of all K-12 Wisconsin schools both public and private, as part of efforts to respond to and contain the spread of COVID-19 in Wisconsin. This decision has a widespread impact on Wisconsin’s workforce and its public and private...
