Legal Advisories

• Statewide Legal Holidays; Accommodation for Religious Observances

• Joint DESE/DCF Advisory Regarding Mandated Reporting Responsibilities of School Personnel in Cases of Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect — Updated 10/28/2021

• Careful Hiring Practices and Reporting Misconduct to DESE — Reminder of State and Federal Requirements

• Advisory on Inter-District School Choice Pursuant to G.L. c. 76, §12B

• Advisory on Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District RE-1, U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Standard for Individualized Education Programs under Federal Special Education Law (IDEA)

• Advisory Opinion on Student Discipline Under Chapter 222 of the Acts of 2012 (Issued 2/28/15) — Updated 12/23/2016

• Questions and Answers — Student Discipline Laws and Regulations (Issued 2/28/16) — Updated 12/23/2016

• Advisory Opinion on Ballot Question 2: "An Act Establishing A Sensible State Marijuana Policy"

• Requirements for School District Policies Governing Late Night & Overnight School Sponsored Student Travel

• Advisory on Approval of Massachusetts Private Schools

• Advisory on Schaffer v. Weast, U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Burden of Proof in Special Education Appeals Cases

• Advisory on CORI Law: Mandatory Criminal Record (CORI) Checks

• Distribution of Boy Scouts Literature in Public Schools

• Advisory on School Governance

• Advisory Opinion on Student Discipline — Outdated, for historical purposes only

• Advisory Opinion on the Parental Notification Law

• Advisory Opinion on School Nurses and Eligibility for Professional Teacher Status

• Questions and Answers on School Councils

• 1999 Student Learning Time — Regulations Guide

• Student Records: Questions, Answers and Guidelines

• Access to Student Records by Non-Custodial Parents

Last Updated: January 5, 2024