Episodes

Safely transporting students to and from school, school events, and school field trips can be a complex endeavor, and raises the potential for numerous health and safety concerns. In this episode, listeners will learn about major changes in New Jersey law that have been enacted in recent years, existing state and federal requirements, the rights of parents to direct what happens at student dismissal and new options available for addressing the shortage of bus drivers. The episode will provide cl...

Meaningful and effective evaluation systems are a critical element of a high quality public school system. But while our society and the demands on our schools have rapidly transformed in recent years, our staff evaluation systems have often remained stuck in a prior 20th century model. In this episode, listeners will hear about steps that are being taken in the State of New Jersey to reenvision staff evaluation, and the important changes to staff evaluation that are being implemented in the sho...

School districts are charged with ensuring a safe, affirming environment for all students, staff members and families, that embraces and celebrates the rich diversity of all stakeholders, with treating students, parents and staff in an equitable manner, and with ensuring an inclusive school environment. This represents not only the ethically right thing to do, but also reflects long-standing legal obligations under both federal and state law. In this episode, listeners will learn about specific ...

School districts need to consider a wide range of unique student issues and comply with state and federal law when it comes to meeting the needs of students who are multilingual learners (MLs). In this episode, listeners will gain an understanding of legal requirements to provide MLs with sound, research-based educational programs, the requirement to effectively communicate with parents/guardians in their native language, the value and legal necessity to take an “assets based” approach to suppor...

In light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor (June 27, 2025) it is critical for school districts to understand their ongoing legal obligations related to addressing gender identity and sexual orientation. In this episode, listeners will learn about key aspects of the Mahmoud decision and how that decision impacts parental rights related to religious expression and opting their children out of certain classroom lessons in grades K-5. The episode also includes a review of ongoi...

As the Artificial Intelligence revolution continues to transform all aspects of our society, school districts need to understand their evolving legal obligations. In this episode, listeners will learn about new federal and New Jersey laws addressing deepfake technology, including new civil and criminal penalties, and new tools for working with social media platforms to remove harmful content. The episode also includes a discussion of key legal considerations as school districts develop their pol...