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Indiana lawmakers face debates on vaccine limits, tax cuts
Indiana lawmakers expect to start their new session by quickly diving into a contentious debate over a Republican-backed proposal aimed at limiting workplace COVID-19 vaccination requirements, even as the virus threatens to overwhelm the state’s hospitals.
Student sues Noblesville High School, claiming school prohibited pro-life club
Alleging Noblesville High School prevented a freshman from organizing a pro-life club because the group’s “political agenda is not aligned with the administration’s agenda,” the student, her parents and her club, Noblesville Students for Life, have filed a lawsuit against the school and several faculty members for violating the rights of free speech and association.
Pendleton Heights Gay-Straight Alliance wins injunction for access to school resources
A central Indiana school district must give the local high school’s gay-straight alliance access to the same advertising and fundraising resources as other noncurricular organizations, a federal judge has ruled, issuing an injunction after finding a violation of the Equal Access Act.
Court suggests religious schools OK to get Maine tuition aid
The Supreme Court appeared ready Wednesday to rule that religious schools can’t be excluded from a Maine program that offers tuition aid for private education, a decision that could ease religious organizations’ access to taxpayer money.
Supreme Court takes up religious rights case from Maine
The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a challenge from parents in Maine who want to use a state tuition program to send their children to religious schools.
COA affirms dismissal of COVID-19 lawsuit by Granger parents against local school corporation, health department
A pair of Northern Indiana parents did not present a legal cause of action in a lawsuit filed against their local health department and children’s school corporation regarding decisions to conduct virtual learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Court of Appeals of Indiana has ruled.
Rokita revises ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ to cover curriculum, medical issues
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has released a revised version of his controversial “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” offering additional guidance to Hoosier parents on educational issues such as filing civil rights claims, opting out of curriculum and the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as reminding parents of their right to petition lawmakers regarding their child’s education.
Law schools still seeing strong interest from potential students
Coming off a robust 2021 admissions cycle, law schools could see another surge of applicants in the 2022 cycle, according to recently released data by the Law School Admission Council.
UBE gives option to leave but new lawyers opting to stay in Indiana
In joining the 38 other states plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, which have all adopted the UBE, Indiana has removed a hurdle to mobility.
Indiana’s bar examiner: Skolnik remembers the stress but sees the value in licensure test
Bradley Skolnik has stepped into a national role as chair of the Council of Bar Admission Administrators
School district, psychologist win partial motions to dismiss in special ed discrimination suit
A northern Indiana school district and its contract psychologist have secured partial victories in a lawsuit brought by the mother of a child with special needs who alleged her child was not given proper educational services.
Pendleton high school sued for alleged violations of students’ rights in gay-straight alliance
A central Indiana school corporation has been accused of violating the constitutional rights of students participating in the local high school’s gay-straight alliance.
Justices: Teachers can bargain over pay for ‘ancillary duties,’ but not definition of duties
While teachers associations can bargain over compensation for “ancillary duties” such as supervising detention, they cannot bargain over what those duties actually are, the Indiana Supreme Court has ruled, upholding a determination by the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board.
Student arrested in stabbing fueled by social media dispute
An argument between students about a dispute on social media led to a stabbing at a high school in Indianapolis, authorities said.
Indiana schools get incentive to require classroom masks
Indiana schools got an incentive from the governor Wednesday to require face masks in classrooms in hopes of slowing down the number of COVID-19 outbreaks among students.
Court rules for Roncalli in lawsuit brought by fired counselor in same-sex marriage
Roncalli High School has won a victory in its legal battle with a former guidance counselor who raised discrimination claims after she was fired for being in a same-sex marriage. A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the counselor’s claims against the Indianapolis Catholic high school are barred by the First Amendment’s ministerial exception.
Indiana AG’s “Parents Bill of Rights” document sparks criticism
A document penned this week by the Indiana Attorney General called “Parents Bill of Rights” has caused a stir among parents and political parties alike, partially taking aim at topics of critical race theory and social emotional learning in schools.
High court sides with ex-athletes in NCAA compensation case
The Supreme Court decided unanimously Monday that the NCAA can’t enforce rules limiting education-related benefits — like computers and paid internships — that colleges offer to student-athletes, a ruling that could help push changes in how the student-athletes are compensated.
Perspectives on virtual J.D. courses vary between 1Ls, upper division students
First-year law students who did more online classes have a different perspective about virtual schooling during the pandemic than their more senior classmates, according to a study presented by AccessLex Institute and Gallup.