E100 Responding to Requests under the California Public Records Act: Best Practices from the Field
Thursday, December 18, 2025 • Duration 26:29
In this episode—the 100th Lozano Smith Podcast episode—host Sloan Simmons joins Partners Alyse Pacheco Nichols and Crystal Pizano to discuss strategic planning and best practices for responding to requests under the California Public Records Act. Alyse and Crystal’s respective expertise in Governance and Municipal practice areas lends a practical discussion useful for local educational agencies and municipalities faced with the ever-increasing number and complexity of public record requests.
Show Notes & References
2:02 – Sequence of events when Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) receive requests for information
5:12 – Unclear requests and seeking clarification
6:39 – The value of understanding who a requester is and the motivations behind any requests
10:21 – Contextual clues to help LEAs know what types of records to identify for disclosure
12:28 – Requests that may relate to anticipated litigation or politically sensitive subjects
15:48 – Large-scale email PRA requests and how to go about gathering documents
19:04 – Best practices for large requests
22:48 – Partnering with legal counsel
For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast
E99 New Laws Impacting Students Heading into 2026
Monday, December 15, 2025 • Duration 40:46
In this episode, host Sloan Simmons joins Student Practice Group Co-Chair Ruth Mendyk and student practitioner Rebal Halabi-Boutros for the year’s annual student legislation round-up. Ruth and Rebal discuss the most significant bills passed by the close of this year’s legislative session and their impacts going into 2026.
Episode 98 Gender Identity, Title IX, and Equal Protection: Status of Federal and California Law and Pending Litigation
Monday, December 1, 2025 • Duration 01:00:14
In this episode, host Sloan Simmons joins Title IX experts Sarah Fama and Sinead McDonough for a comprehensive discussion regarding the status of the law as it pertains to gender identity, students, and schools. Topics covered include the current status of California and federal law and policy on point, as well as the wide-ranging scope of pending litigation poised to impact this area of school law.
Show Notes & References
1:54 – Foundational cases impacting Title IX policy (Bostock v. Clayton County (2020) 140 S. Ct. 1731) (Client News Brief 50 – June 2020)
2:55 – Grabowski v. Arizona Board of Regents (9th Cir. 2023) 69 F.4th 1110
Episode 97 Mahmoud v. Taylor: A Practical Discussion on the Supreme Court’s Opt-Out Opinion
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 • Duration 45:59
In this episode, host Sloan Simmons joins Partners Chelsea Olson-Murphy and Kyle A. Raney for a practical discussion of the holding, impact, and resulting best practices following the Supreme Court’s opinion in Mahmoud v. Taylor regarding the ability of parents to opt their children out of certain curriculum based upon sincerely held religious beliefs.
Show Notes & References
1:50 – Opt-out statutes in other states and how California can prepare for these changes
28:38 – Best practices and recommendations for LEAs
36:16 – Template opt-out forms and three prongs of information to gather
41:16 – Takeaways and final thoughts
For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast
Episode 96 Signed, Sealed, Liable: The Realities of Opinions of Counsel
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 • Duration 38:39
In this episode, host Sloan Simmons joins Public Finance Chair Daniel Maruccia and Municipal and Governance Co-Chair Mary Lerner to discuss opinions of counsel and their important role relating to bond issuances and related transactions. Dan and Mary discuss the legal parameters applicable to opinions of counsel as well as practical impacts and challenges that can arise in this area of the law.
Show Notes & References
1:26 – What are Opinions of Counsel
2:26 – Who asks for an Opinion of Counsel and why
10:08 – Information needed prior to signing an Opinion
12:09 – The seriousness of signing Opinions
15:01 – Unqualified v. Qualified Opinions
16:19 – Due diligence analysis
23:48 – Consequences to being wrong
25:39 – Timelines and missing deadlines
32:05 – Best practices
For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast
Episode 95 From Resume to Red Flag: District Responsibilities Under AB 2534
Friday, June 20, 2025 • Duration 31:26
When it comes to hiring certificated staff, the process is now more complex and challenging. In this episode, host Aly Bivins connects with Lozano Smith attorneys Dulcinea Grantham and Gail Zurek to unpack the key provisions and implications of Assembly Bill (AB) 2534, focusing on legal obligations for Local Education Agencies related to certificated employees and egregious misconduct. Packed with FAQs, explanations of key obligations, and steps for practical compliance, this episode is essential listening for HR teams, administrators, and anyone involved in the certificated hiring process.
3:02 – Who is affected by AB 2534 (employees and Local Education Agencies (LEAs))
4:59 – The definition of “egregious misconduct”
6:52 – New obligations under AB 2534
7:47 – Obligations for LEAs responding to requests
12:49 – Issues regarding non-responsive LEAs
13:30 – Timelines for responses from LEAs
15:32 – Substitute teachers
16:25 – Steps for a hiring LEA that receives a report of egregious misconduct
18:36 – Disclosing reports to applicants or former employees
20:17 – Caution regarding what information LEAs provide to CTC (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing)
24:44 – What to do about information inadvertently not reported to CTC
23:34 – Common questions LEAs are facing
27:45 – Quick tips for LEAs
For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.
Episode 94 The ESY Puzzle: Putting the Pieces Together for IEP Success
Wednesday, May 28, 2025 • Duration 43:40
Extended School Year (ESY) services can raise nuanced questions for IEP teams and special education professionals. On this episode of the Lozano Smith Podcast, host Aly R. Bivins talks with Roxana E. Khan and Erin Frazor about how ESY differs from summer school, the legal requirements under the IDEA, and how to make sound, individualized decisions. They round out the conversation by highlighting common pitfalls and offering practical tips to ensure compliance, including the importance of clear documentation.
Show Notes & References
2:10 – ESY (Extended School Year services) vs. Summer School
2:52 – FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) and ESY
8:45 – Regression/Recoupment Analysis applied in California
10:14 – Three other standards determined by the courts
14:08 – What to provide during ESY
21:21 – When to make ESY determination
25:10 – Determining ESY eligibility for incoming students with less available information
28:01 – Litigation regarding ESY
34:17 – Does ESY only apply during the summer?
37:14 – Does the IDEA speak to Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) in relation to ESY?
38:45 – M.C. by & through S.B. v. Los Angeles Unified School District (C.D. Cal., Aug. 9, 2023) Case No. 2:20-CV-09127-CBM-E, 2023 WL 11066079
40:07 – Continuum of ESY placement options
For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.
Episode 93 Speakers, Singers, and Sashes: Planning for a Successful Graduation Ceremony
Friday, April 25, 2025 • Duration 40:15
Graduation season is fast approaching and now is the time for selecting speakers, auditioning singers and all the other details that go into planning a successful event. On this Lozano Smith podcast, host Sloan Simmons and his guests Partners and Lozano Smith Student Practice Group Leaders, Ruth Mendyk and Kyle Raney, walk through parameters and considerations in preparing for the ceremony itself, including speeches, music, adornments and more. The group also discusses the basics that being included in the ceremony is not a guarantee, but should be considered a privilege for students to participate.
Show Notes & References
1:14 – Participating in graduation: a privilege, not a right (Swany v. San Ramon Valley Unified Sch. Dist. (N.D. Cal. 1989) 720 F.Supp. 764)
4:00 – Best practices for districts to communicate graduation policies and parameters
7:27 – Non-public forums of graduation ceremonies
10:01 – Due process regarding student participation (Castro v. Clovis Unified School District (U.S.D.C. E.D. Cal. 2022) Case No. 1:19-cv-00821-DAD-SKO) (Client News Brief 29 – June 2022)
12:31 – Students on the mic (Lassonde v. Pleasanton Unified School District (2003) 320 F.3d 979)
16:42 – Invocations and religious speech (Cole v. Oroville Union High School District (9th Cir. 2000) 228 F.3d 1092)
23:34 – Alternative bases for regulating expression (Corder v. Lewis Palmer School District No. 38 (U.S.D.C. D. Col. 2009) Case No. 08-1293 and Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988) 484 U.S. 260) (Education Code section 48907)
Episode 92 Title IX: Past Lessons, Present Shifts, and Future Possibilities
Thursday, April 10, 2025 • Duration 30:37
This episode explores the evolving landscape of Title IX through the lens of where we are and where we’re headed. From the impact of the 2020 regulations and the recent vacating of the 2024 regulations, to current executive orders, investigations, and state laws shaping implementation today, our team looks ahead at what future federal guidance may hold. Lozano Smith Title IX gurus Monica Batanero, Sarah Fama, and Emma Sol join host Sloan Simmons for this timely discussion to help school leaders navigate the rapid legal changes.
Show Notes & References
2:14 – The current buzz around Title IX
3:35 – 2024 Title IX Regulations vacated by January 9, 2025 Kentucky court case (Tennessee v. Cardona, 2:24-cv-00072)
5:15 – Ensuring compliance with the 2020 Regulations
7:51 – Other policies impacted by removal of the 2024 Regulations
8:45 – Potential for drafting future Title IX Regulations to have less back and forth change between administrations
Episode 91 School Facilities, Funding and Construction Series – Part 3: Implementation
Thursday, March 13, 2025 • Duration 16:07
In the final episode of our three-part podcast series, host Sloan Simmons joins Lozano Smith Facilities and Business Partners Megan Macy and Anne Collins, and special guest Sue Bell, Chief Facilities Officer for the Elk Grove Unified School District, to tackle all things implementation. The experts discuss turning plans into action, from developing teams and agreements to delivery methods and launch.
8:10 – Ensuring Board policies and resolutions are up to date
8:48 – Timing
10:16 – Project management
11:57 – Recommendations regarding Construction Managers
12:44 – Big picture takeaways
For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.
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35:09 – T.S. et al. v. Riverside Unified School District et al., U.S.D.C., Central District of California, Case No. 5:24-cv-02480-SSS-SP, and order on motion to dismiss, (C.D. Cal. Sept. 24, 2025) 2025 WL 2884416
36:25 – Protections for student privacy and their interactions with parental rights
39:22 – Mirabelli vs. Olson et al.¸U.S.D.C., Southern District of California, Case No. 3:23-cv-00768-BEN-VET
44:13 – The dynamic between the federal government and California post-AB 1955 enactment (United States of America v. California Interscholastic Federation et al., U.S.D.C., Central District of California, 8:25-cv-01485-CV-JDE)
