Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 85 into law on February 23, 2021, providing emergency financial assistance to community college students, funding for student recruitment and retention, and support for increasing enrollment in the state's CalFresh program. “As millions of Californians are strug...
Health and Wellness Tips, Part 2 When we become stressed, anxious, or frustrated, our bodies tend to clench up and become static. For moments like this, stress balls are a useful mechanism and outlet. The act of squeezing stress balls repeatedly allows our bodies to release tensi...
AB 992 (Stats. 2020, Ch. 89) recently amended Government Code section 54952.2 of the Ralph M. Brown Act to permit public officials to communicate on social media platforms to answer questions, provide information to the public, or to solicit information from the public regarding a matter within ...
Teachers and school district employees are often left with little to no affordable housing selection in the school districts where they teach, and as a result they often commute from long distance or live with several other district employees to afford rent. In 2016, the Teacher Housing Act (the...
Stress is perhaps the most common wellness issue, but it's different for everyone. It may be caused by demanding work or school schedules, finances, family life, or long-term health problems. Regardless of cause, the impact is real. Excessive stress may cause headaches, lower energy, sweating, d...
On December 18, 2020, the California Department of Education announced the annual adjustment to the bid threshold for competitive contracts awarded by school districts. Public Contract Code section 20111(a) requires school districts to competitively bid contracts involving an expenditure of more...
Due to the Covid-19 stay at home periods throughout the year the state legislature considered and passed fewer laws this year in comparison to previous years. Nonetheless, there are still several new laws to keep in mind as 2021 begins in just a few weeks. Below is a list of several important law...
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) recently released free online training courses aimed at assisting employers to comply with new state laws regarding sexual harassment prevention training. The release comes just in time for the new January 1, 2021 statutory deadli...
On November 13, 2020, the California Court of Appeal decided a case of first impression regarding school district liability under the Unruh Civil Rights Act (“Act”). The Court in Brennon B. v. Superior Court, 2020 Cal. App. LEXIS 1077 (Ct. App. Nov. 13, 2020) held that public school districts ar...
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought countless changes to the way Californians conduct business, complete daily tasks, and engage socially while remaining safe. Schools specifically have seen a number of changes in their operations, legal requirements, and financial responsibilities. The process for...
1. Why do you enjoy representing school districts? I come from a family of educators and administrators. Public education has always been an important aspect of my life and my family's values. I enjoy representing school districts because it gives me an opportunity to give back to our community...
1. Why do you enjoy representing school districts? I love working with people who are excited about their jobs. The individuals I work with at the school districts, at every level, are always passionate about what they do and invested in the education of their students. 2. Where did you get yo...
1. Why do you enjoy representing school districts? I enjoy representing school districts because public education is such an important part of who we are and where we are headed as a society. I like the idea that I'm able to play a role in helping that process. 2. Where did you go to school? I st...
1. Why do you enjoy representing school districts? The commitment and care of the school districts we work with is encouraging and motivating! I am grateful that I can be of assistance to the goal of helping students succeed and advancing education in communities throughout the state. 2. Where ...
Parker & Covert LLP is proud to support National Book Month this October. As a full-service law firm that serves educational agencies exclusively, we value the educational mission of all school administrators, teachers, and employees throughout the state of California. With this in mind, Parker ...
Recently enacted Assembly Bill 685 makes changes to COVID-19 employer notification requirements and gives Cal/OSHA greater enforcement powers. AB 685 amends sections 6325 and 6432 and adds section 6409.6 to the Labor Code. It applies to public employers except health facilities as defined in th...
The TV ads and yard signs are beginning to pop up, which can only mean one thing: election season is right around the corner. In fact, Election Day, November 3, 2020, is less than 60 days away! What should school officials remember during election season? Educate, don't advocate. In general, a ...
The 2020-2021 school year has presented historical challenges for school districts across the nation. One challenge specific to California school districts is the reconciliation of new State-mandated distance learning requirements contained in Assembly Bill (“AB”) 77 with California Education Co...
Legislation that shielded schools from liability because of transmission of COVID-19 cases at school died in the Senate Judiciary Committee at the end of last month. The legislature adjourned before Assembly Bill 1384 (“AB 1384”) was considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. As a result, scho...
On June 29, 2020 Senate Bill 98 (“SB 98”) was signed into law by Governor Newsom. While SB 98 is a budget bill and outlines school funding throughout the state of California for the 2020-2021 school year, it also provides distance learning standards for local educational agencies (“LEA”) to imple...
On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education published its newly updated Title IX regulations prohibiting sex discrimination at federally funded institutions. The new regulations, which apply to all federally funded institutions, including public K-12 school districts, require significant ch...
As local educational agencies (LEAs) throughout the state continue to plan for the complicated transition back to school in the fall, the question of liability from COVID-19 related harm looms large. AB 1384, recently introduced by Assemblymember Patrick O'Donnell (D- Long Beach), aims to address...
While the majority of Community College students are over the age of 18, many community colleges around the state offer dual enrollment classes for high school students, as well as elective courses for minors. As a result, children may be present on community college campuses, and may regularly ...
In Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, 591 U.S. ___ (June 18, 2020), the United States Supreme Court held that the Department of Homeland Security's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA, program was invalid. Chief Ju...
On June 15, 2020, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects gay and transgender rights in the workplace. Title VII makes it “unlawful…for an employer…to fail or refuse to hire or to di...
Parker and Covert LLP, through its Northern and Southern California offices, provides comprehensive legal representation to school districts, community colleges, and other educational clients in communities throughout the state of California.