Statutory Updates

• Changes to M.G.L. c. 71, sec. 59B
• Massachusetts Legislation in the Wake of Janus
• The "Grand Bargain"
• Massachusetts Equal Pay Act
• Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
• Amendments to Massachusetts Public Records Law and Regulations
• Marijuana Law in Massachusetts
• Substance Use, Treatment, Education and Prevention Law and Policy Submission Requirements, Including Opiod Law
• Changes to M.G.L. c. 71, sec. 42 re: Reduction in Force
• Student Discipline and Chapter 222
• Changes M.G.L. c. 71, sec. 37H 3/4 (Fall 2022)

Case Summaries

• Spaulding v. Natick, CA No. 2018-01115 (Mass. Super. 11/21/18); Public comment period during school committee meeting
• Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31, 585 U.S. __ (June 27, 2018); U.S. Supreme Court holds mandatory union agency fees violate public employees' First Amendment Rights
• Cormier v. City of Lynn, 470 Mass. 35 (February 27, 2018); SJC holds school not liable for students injuries at hand of schoolmate bully
• Boelter v. Board of Selectmen of Wayland, (SJC-12353, April 5, 2018)
• Barbuto v. Advantage Sales and Marketing, SJC 12226 (July 17, 2017): Medical marijuana and the workplace
• Endrew F. ex rel. Joseph F. v. Douglas County School District, 137 S.Ct. 988 (2017) re: FAPE standard under IDEA
• Chadwick v. Duxbury Public Schools, 475 Mass. 645 (2016) re: assertion of union privilege
• Goodwin v. Lee, 475 Mass. 280 (2016) re: student discipline
• Plymouth Public Schools v. Education Association of Plymouth & Carver, 89 Mass. App. Ct. 643 (2016) re: interplay between approved leave and acquisition of professional teacher status
• Groton-Dunstable Regional School Committee v. Groton-Dunstable Educators Association, 87 Mass. App. Ct. 621 (2015) re: arbitration
• Champa v. Weston, 473 Mass. 86 (2015) re: disclosure of Special Education Settlement Agreements
• Meagher v. Andover School Committee, 94 F. Supp. 3d. 21 (D. Mass. 2015) re: teacher free speech claim
• School Committee of Marshfield v. Marshfield Education Association, 84 Mass. App. Ct. 743 (2014) re: PTS teacher rights under CBA after licensure lapse
• School Committee of Lexington v. Mark Zagaeski, 469 Mass. 104 (2014) re: scope of arbitrator authority to modify educator discipline under MGL c. 71, Sec. 42

Topical Advisories

• Laws and Decisions Affecting Juveniles and Student Discipline
• Board of Education Revisions to Educator Evaluation Regulations
• Summary of Changes to Physical Restraint Regulations
• Home Instruction
• School Immunization