A Follow-Up to Our “What’s Happening with SPED-Related Services?” Webinar

by Andrea Payne | Apr 22, 2020 | Legal Developments, Liability, Special Education, Uncategorized

On April 9th, ED311 and TCASE presented the first webinar in our series of bonus content for the Spring Conference on Special Education Law.  Dianna Bowen of Thompson & Horton LLP, Heather Rutland of Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Muñoz PC, and Jose Martín...

The TxSSC Issues Model Policies and Procedures to Establish and Train on Threat Assessment

by Jennifer Childress | Feb 26, 2020 | Legal Developments, Liability

The Texas State Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) has issued model policies and procedures consistent with the requirements of Texas Education Code (TEC) 37.115 for public school districts and charter schools in establishing and training threat assessment teams in...

The Importance of Maintaining District Documentation in Event of Lawsuit

by Jennifer Childress | Feb 6, 2019 | Liability

When a lawsuit is filed, the parties engage in discovery, which is a means by which each party tries to obtain relevant evidence from the other party.  As part of the discovery process, parties typically request documents and other materials pertinent to a claim or...

Commissioner Issues Rules On Handling Unauthorized Persons On Campus

by Jennifer Childress | Sep 12, 2018 | Legal Developments, Liability

New Commissioner rules effective August 26, 2018, impact how school districts are required to handle unauthorized persons on campus.  In 2017, the Texas Legislature amended Texas Education Code § 37.105 to require that the Commissioner of Education adopt rules...

Court Holds Lawsuit Alleging Injuries During Athletics Subject To Dismissal

by Jennifer Childress | Oct 12, 2017 | Legal Developments, Liability

Jessica Ryburn sued the Giddings Independent School District on behalf of her middle school son, L.W., for injuries she claims he sustained during “mat drills” at the direction of his athletics coach.  Mat drills involved two students “on all fours on the mat going at...

Is Your District Adopting the New Rules for Seat Belts on School Buses?

by Jennifer Childress | Sep 20, 2017 | Legal Developments, Liability

This year, the Texas Legislature mandated that all newly-acquired school buses be equipped with three-point seat belts. Senate Bill 693 amended Transportation Code § 547.701(e) in response to two deadly school bus crashes involving Texas students.  The legislation...