School Leaders Risk Management Association (SLRMA) is a not-for-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Executive Directors of State School Board Associations. SLRMA provides timely information to assist public school districts (K-12) and cooperatives, as well as public school district self-insured pools, in preventing unwanted and unwarranted school board legal liability claims. SLRMA members also enjoy access to the Best Practices Risk Management Line - a service of the AGOS Group, designed to help members with their employment related issues. Additionally, SLRMA works with the Federal Legislation Insurance Committee (FLIC), analyzing potential liability exposures arising from legislation.

  • English Language Learners in Selected States: A District Self-Audit Guide, a Special Report from FLIC. Over the last 25 years, the number of English Language Learners, or school-age children whose first language at home is not English, has more than doubled. Is your district prepared for the changes that this issue will require? The ELL Self-Audit will help you to evaluate this important issue.
  • 2007 Update: The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Self Audit Checklist: Back by popular demand, SLRMA has collaborated with the Federal Legislative Insurance Committee (FLIC) to produce an updated self-audit form for member districts and their counsel to utilize in examining pay practices and assessing the level of exposure in their employment practices.  The 2007 update includes important new questions addressing payment and tracking of school volunteers in certain circumstances, the issue of addressing payments for an employee’s time waiting to clock in for a task, and detailed clarification of the critical issue of whether an employee is actually “Exempt” or “Non-Exempt” from receiving overtime pay.
  • Nutritional Summary, Model Policy, and Executive Summary: SLRMA, together with the Federal Legislative Insurance Committee (FLIC), is proud to present to members its summary of nutritional changes affecting school districts nationwide. This document attempts to clearly describe the suddenly complex nature of school nutrition -- from the origins of the current rush to change nutrition policies to resources available to help districts meet the increasingly demanding requirements. This document will undoubtedly help those who are a bit confused by the current environment. Additionally, included along with the summary is a model Wellness Policy, for use by SLRMA members in understanding what the main components are of a strong Wellness Policy. A brief executive summary is also included.

  • 04/17/2008 - Flores v. Arizona, et al., No. 07-15603 (9th Cir. February 22, 2008), The complexities of implementing an English-language instruction program in a state with over 130,000 students for whom English is their second language were addressed by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in their Flores v. Arizona holding.  The court outlined and recommended changes that may finally make the state’s ELL program compliant with constitutional mandates.  For more information, also check out Hogan & Hartson’s memo summary posted today
  • 02/26/2008 - Curry v. Saginaw City School District, No. 06-24389, 2008 WL 141076 (6th Cir. Michigan, January 16, 2008), a Hogan & Hartson memorandum. The sixth circuit federal appellate court in Michigan examined whether a student’s exercise of his First Amendment rights in a form of creative expression crossed the line into prohibited religious advocacy within the context of a Christmas-time entrepreneurial project.
  • 02/19/2008 - School District of the City of Pontiac v. Spellings, No. 05-2708, 512 F.3d 252, 2008 WL 60187 (6th Cir. Michigan, January 7, 2008), a Hogan & Hartson memorandum. The sixth circuit federal appellate court in Michigan has held that school districts and education associations have standing to ask the court for a declaratory judgment as to whether they must comply with unfunded No Child Left Behind federal mandates. 
  • 01/22/08 - Ponce v. Soccoro Independent School District, No. 06-50709, 2007 WL 4111241 (5th Cir. Nov. 20, 2007), a Hogan & Hartson memorandum. A Montwood High School sophomore student was suspended from school in August 2005 after an assistant principal discovered his notebook with an entry called “My Nazi Diary Based on a True Story” that seemed to fantasize about a Colombine-style school shooting.  The Fifth Circuit appellate court found that the school could censor such speech, in an important ruling that applied the reasoning of the “Bong Hits for Jesus” ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • 01/21/08 - Biscotti v. Yuba City Unified School District, 2007 WL 4531819 (Cal. App. 3 Dist.) What is a school's liability when a student creates a dangerous situation on the edge of school grounds and is injured? A California court reviews important tort and property concepts for schools.
  • 01/21/08 - Soter v. Cowels Publishing Co., 2007 WL 4547730 (Wash.) The privacy laws of Washington state collide with the Public Records Act statue giving journalists a right to (almost) all school records.
  • 01/21/08 - NHTSA Proposed School Bus Safety Rules: The law firm of Hogan & Hartson reports for us on the major developments in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recommendations and safety guidelines for the 474,000 school buses that transport over 25 million children to our schools.
  • 12/19/07 - Charlene Nguon, et al v. Ben Wolf, et al, 2007 WL 2827749 (C.D. Cal.) A California court finds that a homosexual student’s privacy rights were not violated when she was punished for open displays of affection with her girlfriend.
  • 12/19/07 - Hjortness, et al. v. Neenah Joint School District, 2007 WL 3355734 (7th Cir. (Wis.)) An appellate court finds the school district did not deny parents their due process in determining a learning plan for a special needs student.