We are nearly at the one-month mark with the 2024 Title IX Regulations in effect. Since the August 1 implementation date, school administrators have been busy getting trained, preparing for the school year ahead, and sorting through the different legal challenges to the new regulations. With most students now settling into their classrooms, we’d like to provide an update on all things Title IX.Continue Reading One Month In – Title IX Update

Schools throughout the country are preparing to implement the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ (“OCR”) long-awaited final 2024 Title IX regulations. These new regulations, which replace the 2020 regulations, took effect today. In the wake of their release, legal challenges have now surfaced throughout the country, aiming to halt enforcement of the 2024 regulations. We have talked with several clients about these lawsuits’ impact on their individual schools, particularly regarding one court order referencing various schools nationwide. We provide general information about this order below relevant to Illinois schools, but we continue to recommend schools contact legal counsel for advice regarding the impact of these challenges on their particular schools.  Continue Reading Legal Challenges to the 2024 Title IX Regulations – What’s Next for Illinois Schools?

As we previously reported, the new 2024 Title IX Regulations are now in effect as of August 1, 2024. To support compliance with the new 2024 Title IX regulations, Franczek P.C. has created a comprehensive Title IX Toolkit for K-12 Institutions. This Toolkit provides forms and guidance documents to help ensure K-12 Institutions comply with the new requirements during the Title IX grievance process. Specifically, the Toolkit includes template notices, forms, flowcharts, checklists for K-12 Institutions and Title IX Coordinators, and helpful resources for students and families. Continue Reading Franczek P.C. Releases New 2024 Title IX Toolkit with Comprehensive Resources to Promote Compliance with the 2024 Title IX Regulations

With the new 2024 Title IX Regulations going into effect on August 1, 2024, Franczek P.C. will offer everything your institution needs for compliance support.  

  • Annual Training: The new regulations require annual training for all those involved in Title IX compliance and a brief training for all employees. We offer trainings in both live-in-person,

Now that the 2024 Title IX regulations have been released, what does your school need to do to be fully compliant by August 1? Over the next few months, our Franczek Title IX team will provide tips and information on key steps schools should take to be prepared. In this post, we will address training requirements for employees and Title IX officials under the new regulations. Continue Reading The 2024 Title IX Regs Are Here—Now What? Part I: Training Your Employees and Your Title IX Team

New school year, new roles, new personnel—these are just some of the reasons to schedule training on the Title IX requirements. While revisions to the Title IX regulations are pending, the 2020 Title IX regulations continue to apply and will for at least the first semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Read below for descriptions of our upcoming training options and click the links for pricing information. Continue Reading New Staff or New Roles? Franczek P.C. Offers Title IX Training for K-12 Administrators

Franczek’s Education Law Team is pleased to offer Title IX Compliance training to prepare your team for the 2022-2023 school year. As our trainees have come to expect from the Franczek team, we will engage participants with the material through live polling, discussion, theoretical problems, and role-playing scenarios. If you are interested in Title IX training scheduled specifically for your school or district, please contact TitleIX@franczek.com.
Continue Reading New Staff or New Roles? Franczek P.C. Offers Title IX Training for K-12 Administrators

Earlier this year, we launched a multi-part series where we provide a refresher on the key players on the Title IX team under the current 2020 regulations. While we wait for the Biden administration to release their proposed regulations soon, remember that the 2020 regulations are still in effect and will be for some time to come. With that in mind, we want to ensure that everyone is up to speed on the current roles and responsibilities of the members of their team. Now is a great time to identify who will serve in these roles for the upcoming school year and ensure those individuals have the necessary training. 

For our final post in this series, we’re focusing our spotlight on the Title IX Advisor. Unlike the other Title IX roles that we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, there are no training requirements for advisors under the 2020 regulations. In fact, as we will discuss below, the advisor role can be filled by virtually anyone, including non-employees. However, we highly recommend that your school or college maintain a roster of trusted individuals who can fill in as advisors when needed and receive at least basic training in your Title IX policy and procedures.  Continue Reading Title IX Refresher Series Part V: Title IX Advisor

In February, we launched a multi-part series in which we provide a refresher on the key players on the Title IX team under the current 2020 regulations. While we wait for the Biden administration to release their proposed regulations, remember that the 2020 regulations are still in effect and will be for some time. With that in mind, we want to ensure that everyone is up to speed on the current roles and responsibilities of the members of their team. 

Today, we focus our spotlight on the Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitator. The 2020 regulations permit institutions to facilitate an informal resolution process between parties involved in a Title IX grievance. The regulations briefly define the informal resolution as a “process, such as mediation, that does not involve a full investigation and adjudication.” There are several key timelines and requirements for the informal process, including the following: 

  • An informal resolution process can only take place after a formal complaint is filed. 
  • An institution may facilitate the informal process at any time prior to reaching a determination regarding responsibility. After a final determination, however, the institution is not permitted to conduct an informal resolution with the parties.  
  • The institution must provide the parties a written notice that relays 1) the allegations, 2) the requirements of the informal resolution process, and 3) any consequences resulting from participation in the informal process, including any records that will be maintained or shared. 
  • Both parties must consent to the informal resolution through voluntary, written consent.  
  • At any time, any party has the right to withdraw from the informal process and resume the grievance process with respect to the formal complaint.  
  • The informal process should take place within a reasonably prompt time frame.  
  • The informal process is not permitted to resolve allegations in which an employee sexually harassed a student. 
  • An institution may not require a party to undergo the informal resolution process and waive their right to a formal Title IX investigation and adjudication as a condition of enrollment, employment, or any other right. 

Continue Reading Title IX Refresher Series Part IV: Title IX Informal Resolution Facilitator

We recently launched a multi-part series where we are providing a refresher on the key players on the Title IX team under the current 2020 regulations. While we wait for the Biden administration to publicly release their proposed regulations, remember that the 2020 regulations are still in effect and will be for some time to come. With that in mind, we want to ensure that everyone is up to speed on the current roles and responsibilities of the members of their team. 

In a previous post, we covered the roles and responsibilities of the Title IX Coordinator. Today, we’re focusing our spotlight on the Title IX Investigator. As you know, Title IX Investigators play a crucial role in your institution’s formal grievance process. Investigators are responsible for conducting fair and unbiased investigations and creating thorough investigation reports summarizing all relevant evidence that will help Decision-Makers make final determinations.  Continue Reading Title IX Refresher Series Part II: The Title IX Investigator