The Supreme Court Is Deciding Fewer Cases But Its Influence Continues to Grow Last week, we discussed the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and what it means for Title IX and transgender participation in athletics. This week, we want to step back from any single opinion and look at a broader shift […]
Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded its October 2025 Term, issuing several decisions that will shape the legal landscape for schools, colleges, and universities. While not every case directly involved education, many addressed issues that influence civil rights enforcement, federal authority, and institutional compliance. Over the next two weeks, we’ll highlight several of the […]
OCR recently released several disability-related resolutions that give a useful window into where the agency is focusing its attention under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The cases came out of very different settings, from a high school honors decision to a field trip and an […]
The Civil Rights Enforcement Landscape Just Shifted. Here’s What It Means. This week, the Department of Education (ED) announced four new Interagency Agreements (IAAs). IAAs are mechanisms used to transfer functions between federal agencies. The IAAs this week move some civil rights enforcement and training responsibilities from ED to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and […]
Documentation Is Your Defense. OCR’s Latest Resolutions Prove It. Having a Policy Isn’t Enough. OCR Is Looking at What You Actually Do. The Queue Is Growing But The Obligations Haven’t Changed. Your Written Policies Won’t Protect You But Your Implementation Will. OCR recently published several new resolution agreements and case closures that provide useful insight […]
Title IX Coordinator Burnout Is Real. Let’s Talk About It. If you work in Title IX or civil rights compliance, you already know that this is not a nine-to-five job. It is a responsibility that follows you. The cases are weighty. The regulatory environment seems to shift constantly. And the people who come to you […]
A District Spent $2.5 Million. A University Paid a $1.3 Million Verdict. Both Were Trying to Follow Title IX. Two recent legal developments out of the Houston area offer a look at what is at stake when Title IX compliance systems break down. Neither case involves a district or institution that ignored the law. Both […]
Most Title IX conversations focus on students. A case the Supreme Court just agreed to hear is a great reminder that the law has never only been about students, and its application to employees has been less settled than many districts and institutions realize. Background On May 18, the Supreme Court accepted Thomas Crowther v. […]
When the federal government opens a Title IX investigation, it is easy to assume that private litigation is not far behind. A May 2026 Eighth Circuit decision says that assumption is worth rethinking. Federal enforcement and private lawsuits operate under different rules, and planning for one does not mean you are prepared for the other. […]
Every year, as the academic calendar winds down, something predictable happens across K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Faculty decompress. Administrative offices quiet down. Students disperse. And compliance teams, often for the first time since August, have room to think. That room is not a luxury. It is an opportunity, and the teams that treat […]
