— In Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed and validated the decision of school officials to limit a parent’s access to campus “at his child’s school.” The case arose when the parent “filed two applications to be placed on the District’s “Approved Volunteer List” so that he could be a chaperone for his child’s school events.” The school has a policy that “categorically bans applicants with criminal histories from serving as school volunteers, regardless of the specific circumstances surrounding the underlying convictions.” The lower court held that the parent did not have a right “in volunteering for school activities.” It further held that “the District’s policy of excluding applicants with criminal histories from volunteering was supported by a rational basis—that is, ensuring the safety of its students.” On appeal, the ruling was affirmed because “although parents have a fundamental right to direct the education and upbringing of their children… there is no fundamental right for parents to be playground monitors or to attend school functions, and schools have valid interests in limiting the parental presence.” The appellate court emphasized that the school policy was “rationally related to its legitimate interest in protecting the safety of its students.” Henson v. Dwight Common School District No. 232.
NOTE: The Court of Appeals did not formally publish this opinion under Fed. R. P. 32.1. This rule simply says that “If a party cites a federal judicial opinion, order, judgment, or other written disposition that is not available in a publicly accessible electronic database, the party must file and serve a copy of that opinion, order, judgment, or disposition with the brief or other paper in which it is cited.”
— In Colorado, the Alyssa’s Youth Concussion and Mental Health Protection Act “expands the training youth coaches must receive on recognizing concussions to include more information on the mental health of young athletes. If an athlete suffers a concussion, the law requires coaches to explain to their parents or guardians what changes in their mental health might happen as a result, including mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or suicidal ideation.”
— In Congress, the House of Representatives has introduced “the Seizure Safe Schools Act, legislation to promote seizure safety and ensure that elementary and secondary schools can safely care for students with seizure disorders.” Under the provisions of the legislation, “the U.S. Secretary of Education, in cooperation with the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, (is authorized) to issue guidance on how elementary schools and secondary schools can promote seizure safety at school and safely care for students with epilepsy or other seizure disorders.”
— In Oklahoma, Tulsa Public Schools have announced a “no fight zone,” and a “calm rooms” safety initiative. Under this policy “students can expect to see more “calm rooms” for de-escalation.” School officials state that “the plan is to stop fights before they start… (and) to have a calm room in every building.”