Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partner Laura Knittle was recently featured in an article titled “Take 6 Steps to Prepare for Potential Spike in 504 Impartial Hearings,” published by Special Ed Connection.
The article highlights the potential impact of recent U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) office closures and the rise in impartial hearings under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. As OCR complaints become less common, school districts may see a shift toward more impartial hearings instead, as parents turn to this process to address their concerns.
“It’s a lot like a special education hearing,” said Knittle. “You’ll have to present your evidence, defend your 504s, and defend that they’re being implemented.” She shared key insights for school districts, emphasizing that Section 504 meetings must be conducted thoroughly and according to procedure, with all necessary documentation and data carefully maintained to defend the school district’s actions if a hearing arises.
Knittle is Co-Chair of the firm’s Education practice. She represents K-12 school districts in all aspects of education law, focusing on student matters, including issues involving the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), alleged violations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, student discipline, student and employee investigations, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations, and confidentiality and student records. Her experience also includes defending school districts in complaints before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).
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