Backpacks Down, Guardrails Up: Summer AI Policy Planning 

Rebecca S. Bailey, Kendra Yoch,

April 22, 2026

in: Training

As hallways quiet for summer, school leaders finally have the breathing room to prepare for the next big shift: Artificial Intelligence. While AI offers immense potential for productivity and engagement, it also introduces risks regarding academic integrity, data privacy, and professional judgment. 

Summer is the ideal window to establish clear expectations before the first bell rings in August. Waiting for a “crisis” in the fall may result in inconsistent and reactive decision-making.

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Back to Bayside: Lessons from Recent Cases (A Saved by the Bell Special)*

Kendra Yoch, Rebecca S. Bailey,

August 28, 2025

in: Hearings/Decisions

Alright, summer’s over, and it’s time to get back to class! The bell just rang on a couple of special education cases from the Fifth Circuit, and let me tell you, they’re dishing out some serious lessons that even Mr. Belding would appreciate. These two cases, both involving the same Mississippi school district, remind us of a golden rule: if a student’s not making progress, it’s time to call a timeout—or in our case, an ARD committee meeting—to rethink the game plan. 

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The Supreme Court Weighs in Again on School Liability Under Section 504 and the ADA Related to Education for Students with Disabilities

Kendra Yoch,

June 12, 2025

in: Hearings/Decisions, Supreme Court

Two years ago, when the Supreme Court decided Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools, which allows students to sue districts for money damages under Section 504 and the ADA without first exhausting the IDEA administrative procedures, we suggested that the decision might not open the floodgates to significant new liability, because the standard for students to prove discrimination under Section 504 and the ADA is higher than a simple denial of FAPE. The question of how much higher was before the Supreme Court in AJT v. Osseo Area Schools. 

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The IDEA Goes to HHS?

Kendra Yoch,

March 25, 2025

in: In the News, Uncategorized

The first three weeks of March were tumultuous for the Department of Education. On March 3, 2025, after being appointed as Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon issued a statement entitled “Our Department’s Final Mission.” The Secretary’s mission is to return authority for education to the states and eliminate “bureaucratic bloat.” On March 11, 2025, the Department of Education initiated a reduction in force of almost 50%.  On March 20, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order aimed at closing the Department. And on March 21, 2025, President Trump said that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would handle “special needs.” The administration has not provided any details about the proposed transition. 

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