Section Newsletters

Articles From Roland R. Cross

Seventh Circuit Decides Student Speech (And Helicopter Parenting) Issue By Roland R. Cross Education Law, December 2025 A case from the Seventh Circuit, E.D. v. Noblesville School District, explores the applicability of First Amendment and Equal Access Act claims when a student's organization was disbanded after parental involvement and insubordination. 
Virginia Administrator Liability for Attack by First Grader By Loraina R. Trujillo & Roland R. Cross Education Law, December 2025 On November 6, 2025, a Virginia jury found that an elementary school assistant principal, Ebony Parker, acted with gross negligence when a six-year-old student shot his first-grade teacher in 2023. In the civil case, the jury awarded the injured teacher $10 million in damages, including interest back to June 1, 2024. Criminal charges against the administrator remain pending.
Supreme Court Rules on Student’s Off-Campus Speech Rights By Carley Kulenkamp & Roland R. Cross Education Law, August 2021 On June 23, 2021, the United States Supreme Court found in favor of B.L., a student, in the landmark school free speech case regarding off-campus speech.
Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies ‘Bumping Rights’ of Laid-off Tenured Faculty By Roland R. Cross Education Law, February 2021 In December 2020, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a decision in Barrall v. The Board of Trustees of John A. Logan Community College, which focused on “the bumping rights” of laid-off tenured faculty members under the Illinois Public Community College Act.
New Freedom of Information Act Cases By Roland R. Cross Education Law, June 2020 In December 2019, the Illinois Supreme Court concluded that a Freedom of Information Act requester should have obtained a settlement agreement between an entity that contracts with the Illinois State Department of Corrections to provide medical care for inmates and the estate of a former inmate.
Transgender Student Rights Updates By Roland R. Cross Education Law, October 2019 An overview of recent transgender student rights updates in Illinois and federal courts.
Frakes v. Peoria School District No. 150 By Roland R. Cross Education Law, December 2017 On September 26, 2017, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s granting of summary judgment to the Peoria School District in finding that the employee failed to show that she engaged in any protected activity giving rise to a Section 504 claim.
Illinois Supreme Court finds PAC’s “incorrect reading” of OMA “clear error” and other recent Open Meetings Act cases By Roland R. Cross Education Law, May 2017 In late 2016, the Illinois Supreme Court, the Illinois Appellate Court and the PAC of the Illinois Attorney General’s office issued important decisions clarifying the requirements and exceptions for public bodies to operate under the Open Meetings Act.
Another bullying case dismissed in federal court By Roland R. Cross Education Law, April 2016 On August 24, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, upheld a decision from the Northern District of Indiana which granted summary judgment to East Porter County School Corporation, Morgan Township Middle/High School, Porter Township School Corporation and Boone Grove Middle School with respect to allegations that the Districts violated a student’s Section 1983 rights with respect to allegations of bullying.
In re pension reform litigation By Roland R. Cross & Elizabeth A. Tracy Education Law, October 2015 On May 8, 2015 the Supreme Court of Illinois unanimously found Public Act 98-599 to be unconstitutional and invalid.
Recent school bullying decisions By Roland R. Cross Education Law, January 2015 In August and September 2014, the Second District Appellate Court of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued decisions with respect to school bullying.
Tenured teacher has no property interest in employment after lay-off By Roland R. Cross Education Law, October 2014 A summary of Price v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago and Barbara Byrd-Bennett.
Noteworthy new cases in education law By Neal Takiff, Kelly Coyle, Roland R. Cross, Stephen G. Katz, & Edward J. Copeland Education Law, May 2014 Recent cases of interest to education law practitioners.
Fourth District reverses decision by TRS Board of Trustees By Roland R. Cross Education Law, October 2012 A summary of Kildeer-Countryside School District v. Board of Trustees of Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois.  
Remediation plan invalidated by Fourth District By Roland R. Cross Education Law, June 2012 After receiving an unsatisfactory evaluation, a tenured teacher was required to participate in a Section 24-A remediation plan.  
Doe-3 v. White: Illinois Supreme Court to decide school district liability By Roland R. Cross Education Law, February 2012 The basic issue raised in this case, which Illinois school districts face on a routine basis, centers around what information a school district can or should provide to successor districts that contemplate hiring teachers who previously served in the initial district.
Seventh Circuit certifies questions to Illinois Supreme Court on tenured teachers’ recall rights By Roland R. Cross Education Law, October 2011 The Court of Appeals concluded that the Illinois Supreme Court should be offered the opportunity to review the construction and application of Illinois law on the issue surrounding tenured teachers’ recall rights and certified three questions to the court.

Spot an error in your article? Contact Celeste Niemann at cniemann@isba.org. For information on obtaining a copy of an article, visit the ISBA Newsletters page.

Select a Different Author