On September 16, 2020, the California Supreme Court granted review of Boermeester v. Carry, a case involving the expulsion of student Matthew Boermeester from the University of Southern California (“USC”) for intimate partner violence in violation of USC policy after an investigation and a hearing. The California Supreme Court’s review of the case is
Education
California Issues “Safe Schools for All Plan”
On December 30, 2020, Governor Newsom issued a new framework for schools so that school districts can reopen or continue operating safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s “Safe Schools for All Plan”, is based on increasing scientific evidence that the correct precautions can stop the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The Governor and…
CDPH Reduces Quarantine Period Following “Close Contact” Exposures to Align with CDC Guidance, but Public School Districts and Community College Districts Must Follow Stricter Guidance Requiring 14-Day Quarantine
On December 7, the California Department of Public Health (“CDPH”) issued updated guidance concerning the recommended quarantine period for individuals following a “close contact” exposure to someone with COVID-19. The CDPH guidance now aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (“CDC”) guidance issued on the same subject on December 2.
Now, both the…
Permissibility of Requiring that Employees at Public School and Community College Districts Receive the COVID-19 Vaccination
Given the recent news coverage concerning COVID-19 vaccines and the government’s distribution plan for such vaccines, many of our clients have inquired whether it will be permissible to require school and community college district employees be vaccinated for COVID-19. This question is important from a public health perspective, complicated from a legal one, and almost…
CDC Reduces Recommended Quarantine Period Following “Close Contact” Exposures to Individuals with COVID-19
On December 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) issued updated guidance concerning the recommended quarantine period for individuals following a “close contact” exposure to someone with COVID-19. The guidance reduces the recommended quarantine period from 14 days to either 10 days or seven days, depending on whether the individual tested negative for…
The First Amendment in Employment and Education – Five Issues for 2021
This year saw perhaps the largest public protests in American history, one of the most contentious election years, vast public use of social media to achieve political and social goals, and harsh debate on whether government mandates designed to combat the pandemic infringe constitutional rights, including the right to free expression. Free speech challenges rose…
LCW to Present Eight Workshops at the 2020 Community College League of California Annual Convention
We are thrilled to present and sponsor the 2020 Community College League of California Annual Convention taking place virtually this week (November 17 – 20)! Don’t miss our eight scheduled conference presentations by our expert speakers. Topics include return to campus issues, layoffs, negotiating in stressful budgetary times, and much, much more.
November 17
12:30pm…
Back to School – Educating Employers on Leave Under the FFCRA as Their Employees’ Children Return to Classes
As students return to school this fall, parents find themselves learning new vocabulary terms, such as “remote learning,” “distance learning,” “synchronous or asynchronous instruction,” and “learning pods.” Parents are also learning how to juggle their own work, either from home or onsite, and their children’s instruction. Employers have probably been receiving requests from employees to…
Special Bulletin: Second Court Denies Preliminary Injunction Against New Title IX Regulations; the Compliance Deadline Remains August 14, 2020
In a lawsuit involving sixteen states and the District of Columbia, including California, filed against the U.S. Department of Education challenging the new regulations governing how sexual harassment allegations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 must be adjudicated, U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols denied the States’ request for a delay pending…
The Kristin Smart Campus Safety Act: What It Is, Why It’s Important, and a Missing Student Remembered

This Memorial Day weekend marks the 24th anniversary of the disappearance of Kristin Smart, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo who disappeared in the early morning hours of May 25, 1996 while walking to her dormitory following a party. Kristin Smart was reported missing to the…