College athletics have been in a state of legal and financial upheaval for several years now. The Supreme Court’s unanimous 2021 ruling in NCAA v. Alston struck down the NCAA’s restrictions on education-related compensation for student athletes as a violation of federal antitrust law, and opened the floodgates to a wave of challenges that have […]
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled in favor of Harvard University in its lawsuit against the Trump administration. Earlier this year, the administration froze roughly $2.3 billion in federal research funding and raised additional challenges related to Harvard’s governance and campus climate. Harvard argued that the freeze and related measures were unlawful and filed […]
As federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) face staffing shortages and shifting enforcement priorities, Title IX leaders may see a rise in private litigation as the primary vehicle for addressing sexual harassment in education. A recent reconsideration of a dismissed lawsuit, Doe v. Board of Supervisors of LSU, […]
Have You Heard? There Are Changes To English Learner Rules and NIBRS Definitions The start of a new school year often brings a fresh wave of regulatory changes and policy shifts. This week, we are exploring two developments that deserve your attention: The Department of Education (ED) has quietly made a significant move regarding the […]
In a move that underscores the heated, evolving debate over transgender rights in schools, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has designated five Northern Virginia school divisions—Alexandria City, Arlington, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County—as “high-risk” grantees and placed them on reimbursement-only payment status for violating Title IX. What Does “High-Risk” Designation Entail? […]
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a memorandum, now widely referred to as the Bondi Memo, to all federal agencies responsible for enforcing civil rights laws. The Memo provides new guidance for identifying and responding to potentially unlawful DEI practices among recipients of federal funding. For K-12 schools and districts and […]
Columbia’s $220 Million Settlement Agreement. As OCR has experienced staffing cuts and is seemingly also not currently prioritizing complaints of Title IX sexual harassment, private causes of action may shift to be the primary means for addressing Title IX sexual harassment claims. A recent district court reconsideration of a previously dismissed ruling in Doe v. […]
Tuesday Takeaways: Major Executive Orders and Higher Ed Pushback Last week brought a wave of major changes to education and civil rights compliance. President Trump signed seven new Executive Orders impacting schools, districts, and institutions nationwide. Here are three key developments you need to know: 1. Disparate Impact Analysis Banned In one of the most […]
We are just 71 days into the new Trump administration, and the landscape of education is shifting at an astonishing pace. To underscore the sheer volume of change, consider this: 24 Executive Orders directly impacting education have been issued. 100+ Lawsuits have been filed challenging actions taken by the Executive Branch. 50+ rulings have resulted […]
On March 19th, The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released two technical assistance documents regarding unlawful discrimination related to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) programs in the workplace. These guidance documents provide some clarity on what DEI programs may be perilous under the President’s new executive orders. The guidance […]
