The LEGAL ONE Podcast NJPSA/FEA

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, FEA
Guest - Maureen A. Brogan, LPC, ACS, DAAETS, DRCC, Program Manager, Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (TLC), Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care
Recent data suggests an alarming spike in mental health needs for students and staff in our public schools.  In this episode, participants will learn about legal requirements under state and federal law related to addressing mental health needs, including a new State law regarding depression screening for students, expansions of state requirements related to health insurance coverage, an overview of the interactive process and reasonable accommodations, and key mental health considerations related to school security.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, FEA
Guest - John Worthington, Esq., Coordinator of Special Education Law, FEA
New Jersey has one of the most expansive anti-discrimination laws in the nation, which provides strong protections for students and staff members in our schools.  In this episode, participants will learn about the broad protections available under NJLAD, including protected categories, recent expansions and clarifications of those protections related to racial discrimination, protections from discrimination linked to hair type/style/texture, and gender equity, including equity in pay and protections for the rights of new mothers, and the various options available for raising a claim of discrimination against a school district.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, FEA
Guests - Christian Fuscarino, Executive Director, Garden State Equality and Kate Okeson, Co-Founder, Monmouth Consortium for LGBTQ+ Youth and NJ High School Art Teacher
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Across the nation, a concerted effort is underway to pressure local school districts to reduce or even abandon essential policies, practices, and curricula that are intended to promote a safe and supportive learning environment for LGBTQ+ students. These efforts have the potential to exponentially increase the risk of harm to students. In this episode, participants will learn about the legal requirements to support LGBTQ+ students under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and other state and federal laws; key elements of guidance developed by the New Jersey Department of Education and Attorney General related to supporting transgender students; and the legal consequences and foreseeable dangers related to adopting board policies that require the outing of LGBTQ+ students to parents or guardians.

Presenter: Michael Kaelber, Esq., LEGAL ONE Coordinator of Online Course Development
This session will discuss the various leaves available to school employees and how they interact with one another. Leaves to be considered will include, but not be limited to basic sick leave, personal leave and other contractually negotiated leaves, FMLA, FLA, and NJ paid family leave.  

Presenter: Michael Kaelber, Esq., LEGAL ONE Coordinator of Online Course Development
This session will review the legal requirements for gifted and talented education in New Jersey, including the recently passed Strengthening Gifted and Talented Education Act and its new reporting requirements. Also to be discussed will be  program requirements, funding issues, identification, programming and equity issues in gifted and talented programs.  

Presenters: Sandra Jacques, Esq., LEGAL ONE Supervisor of Legal Research and Content
This session will provide an overview of New Jersey Registration and Residency Laws pertaining to students enrolling in a public school.  Participants will gain an understanding of the limitations of a School District when seeking documentation from prospective students.  Additionally there is a discussion of the residency exceptions available to students that are not domiciled within the boundaries of the School District.