Education Law | Slote, Links & Boreman, PC

Note: The firm is not accepting new clients in education law matters. We are not accepting new clients in education employment law matters or CTC cases.

For over 40 years, we have worked in the education sector, primarily representing public school site administrators and their labor unions. We also represent private schools, university and college faculty members.

The firm’s education law practice centers on the representation of school administrators. These professionals are school site leaders (principals, assistant principals and site managers), as well as supervisors, directors and other high ranking local school officials. We have organized collective bargaining units for supervisory employees; negotiated collective bargaining contracts and litigated important issues before the courts and in arbitration tribunals. We have also represented management employees regarding their individual employment situations. Additionally, we have provided ongoing counseling on a variety of legal issues to both school districts and educational institutions.

Articles and Case Results

Ninth Circuit Upholds Free Speech Rights of Academic Employees; Pickering Test, not Garcetti Decision, Applies

In Garcetti v. Cevallos, 547 U.S.

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September 6, 2013

Threats of Violence May Justify Student's Suspension or Expulsion

The Ninth Circuit appropriately summarized the difficult job of a school administrator in Wynar v.

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September 4, 2013

Court Rules Schools Must Meet Stricter Standards Under ADA than IDEA

The IDEA and the ADA are related, but they are not the same.

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August 7, 2013

Courts Uphold “Ministerial Exception” in Wrongful Termination Case; Religious School Exempt from Title VII, ADA and FEHA; Key is Religious Nature of Employer and Religious Nature of Employee's Duties

The First Amendment protects religious freedom and, because of that important right, religious institutions are entitled to an exemption from civil rights statutes that govern employment discrimination. This principle was at the core of two important decisions, one from the U.S.

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June 26, 2012

In Teacher Dismissal Hearing, School District Liable for Attorney's Fees When It Dismisses Charges on Eve of Proceedings

The California Education Code entitles employees to a hearing regarding their dismissal should they request it.

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June 26, 2012

Cyber-Bullying Update - U.S. Supreme Court Denies Review in Three Cyber-Bullying Cases

We previously reported on the decision in J.C. v. Beverly Hills Schools, 757 F.Supp.2d 1094 (C.D. Cal.

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January 19, 2012

PERB Confirms Rules of Grievance Handling and Union’s Duty of Fair Representation; Union Must be Fair, But Is Not Required To Be Perfect

A decision from California’s Public Employment Relations Board clarifies the rules that apply when an employee asserts that his/her union breached the “duty of fair representation” when handling (or in this case not handling) the employee’s grievance. Here is the nub of the PERB ruling in Jacala v.

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July 5, 2011

Students First Amendment Rights Upheld in Major Cases Related to Cyber-Bullying; Third Circuit Affirms Rule That There Must be a Substantial Disruption At The School Site In Order To Justify Discipline For Posting On-Line Content

Cyber-bullying is a major topic of discussion in every school district in America. Not surprisingly, this issue is finding its way into the courthouses all across the country, too.

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July 1, 2011

Public Employees First Amendment Rights Upheld By Ninth Circuit; School District Employee Engaged in Protected Speech When She Sat Next To Colleague at Board Meeting

We have commented previously about the First Amendment free speech rights of public employees. In Nichols v. Dancer, the law took another step in favor of protecting an employee’s right to associate with colleagues who may be involved in controversial issues.

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July 1, 2011

Sexting Costs Certificated Teacher His Job – Personal Ad on Craigslist for Sexual Relations Deemed “Immoral Conduct” and Evidence of “Unfitness” Under Education Code Section 44932; Court Declares That Teachers, as Role Models, Occupy Special Position and

Sometimes when teachers do what others do, they can get into trouble simply because they are teachers. A case from San Diego highlights this very problem. In San Diego Unified School District v.

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May 10, 2011