Aug 18th, 2026Protecting the District and Its Tax Base
School districts have two primary sources of in-State revenue. The first is State Aid, revenue received from the State of New York. The second primary source of school district revenue is real property tax payments, received from residential and commercial property owners located in the school district, based upon their property’s assessed value. Property owners can challenge the assessed value in a tax certiorari proceeding and seek to reduce their overall tax payments, as well as to recover any payments made based on the alleged excessive value.
Aug 18th, 2026School District Compliance Alert: New Immigration-Related Procedures Required Under Education Law § 3201-b
Public school districts, BOCES, and UPK programs operating on school property must comply with new requirements under New York State Education Law Section 3201-b. The statute requires the covered entities (hereinafter, referred to as “school districts”) to develop, adopt and implement procedures designed to safeguard students and families from unauthorized immigration enforcement activities on school grounds and to certify compliance with those requirements to the Commissioner of Education.
Jul 29th, 2026Supreme Court Finds that State Laws Limiting Participation in Girls’ and Women’s Sports Do Not Violate Title IX or the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause
A West Virginia law passed in 2021 imposed a categorical ban on biological males participating in female sports. B.P.J., a biological male who identifies as female, challenged the law in court claiming it violated Title IX and the Equal Protection clause of the U.S. Constitution.
Jun 26th, 2026Pause Before Posting: Student Privacy Concerns with Social Media Posts by Schools
Social media engagement by teachers and staff can provide opportunities for a school district to connect with students and the community in positive ways. However, a recent Review and Determination issued by the Chief Privacy Officer of the New York State Education Department underscores that schools and staff must comply with state and federal privacy laws when sharing social media posts that include images or videos of students. Not every student photograph will qualify as an education record in every circumstance, but photographs and videos frequently raise privacy concerns and should never be treated casually.
Jun 26th, 2026The Commissioner of Education Authorizes Excluding Non-Residents From The Right To Speak During Public Comment At A Board of Education Meeting
In a recent decision, the Commissioner of Education reaffirmed that school districts have the right to exclude non-residents from being allowed to speak during the public comment portion of a Board meeting.
May 13th, 2026Employee Speech and School District Response: Navigating a Fact-Specific Landscape
In an increasingly volatile political climate, school districts have increasingly confronted situations in which employee expression intersects with district operations, requiring a careful balance between constitutional protections and the district’s obligation to maintain control over its facilities and message. While such speech may raise legitimate operational or reputational concerns, the legal framework governing a district’s response remains highly fact-specific and requires careful analysis before action is taken.
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