July-August 2010

Volume 26, Number 7 Back to School! This month our lead article by Managing Editor Jim Walsh summarizes the important court cases from the past year, all with an eye toward the 2010-11 school year which is fast upon us. In our Legal Developments we report 11 court cases, including three from the 5th Circuit, six decisions from the Commissioner’s office, three special education due process hearings and two Attorney General Opinions. Here are the highlights.

June 2010

This month we feature Judy Brown’s (Walsh, Anderson, Brown, Gallegos and Green) very timely and common sense summary of how the 2010 census will impact redistricting efforts in school districts. In our Legal Developments we report 11 court cases, including one from the 5th Circuit and two from the Texas Supreme Court, along with six decisions from the Commissioner’s office, one opinion from the Attorney General and one special education due process hearing. Here are the highlights.

School District's Restrictions on Student's Hair Violated Student's Religious Rights

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals holds that dress code restrictions on Native American kindergarten student violate the student's religious rights.

PLANO ISD PREVAILS IN LRE DISPUTE BEFORE 5TH CIRCUIT

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has confirmed that public schools are the preferred setting for students with disabilities, including those in preschool. This issue has surfaced a great deal in recent…

Dress Codes vs. Student Expression: Are You Ready for the New School Year?

In August of 2009 the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the constitutionality of Waxahachie ISD’s content-neutral dress code. The district’s dress code prohibits…

Texas Supreme Court Clarifies the Timeline for Public Information Act Requests

On February 19, 2010, the Texas Supreme Court in City of Dallas v. Abbott overturned the Attorney General’s understanding of the statutory timeline for responding to requests for public information. …

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