Let’s Talk - Lozano Smith Podcast

Who has the authority to make educational decisions for a student? In this episode, host Michelle Cannon is joined by Lozano Smith attorneys Amanda Cordova and Anna Wood to discuss the legal framework surrounding educational rights, including special education considerations. The conversation explores custody arrangements, caregiver authority, AB 495, and when students hold their own educational r...

In this episode, host Sloan Simmons is joined by Lozano Smith attorneys Sarah Garcia and Karina Demirchyan to discuss why student attendance has become a critical issue for local educational agencies and how attendance concerns can evolve into legal and special education obligations. Drawing on recent legislative updates and real-world experience, the conversation highlights funding considerations...

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 an...

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. Show Notes & References 1:34 – New laws related to immigration enforcem...

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 l...

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 st...

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 la...

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...

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 c...

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 itsel...

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 Bat...

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 la...

In Part 2 of this three-part podcast series, host Sloan Simmons is back with 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. The group covers team building, planning with and for consultants, tips and tricks, and how to best utilize your legal team to get your project off the...

In this episode, we re-air Podcast 52 from March 2022, in which host Sloan Simmons joins partners and Lozano Smith Labor and Employment Co-Practice Group Leaders Michelle Cannon and Gabriela Flowers to discuss several important school district labor and employment deadlines that all fall on March 15. This brief but information packed episode includes discussion on various types of release from emp...

In this three-part podcast series, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith Facilities and Business Partners Megan Macy and Anne Collins , as well as special guest Sue Bell, Chief Facilities Officer for the Elk Grove Unified School District, on a thoughtful discussion regarding state funding and post-Proposition 2 spending.   This discussion will assist listeners in issue spotting, problem sol...

In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith’s student law experts Ed Sklar and Josh Whiteside regarding applicable laws, guidance, and anticipated developments regarding immigration enforcement and schools under the new presidential administration.  The group discusses the similar focus on this issue dating back to 2017-2018, what happened then, resulting California laws an...

Join Lozano Smith Student attorneys Ruth Mendyk , Alexandra Carubis , and Josh Whiteside as they discuss developments from the most recent legislative session and evaluate the impacts on California students beginning January 1, 2025. Show Notes & References 2:03 – Prohibition of suspension for students seeking help with substance use (Assembly Bill (AB) 2711) 5:53 – Lawful possession of fentan...

This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the fourth and final in a 4-part series Leadership in Action , brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Due to a long pattern of declining enrollment and resulting budget challenges, school districts around the state are increasingly faced with making the difficult decision of whether and how to close...

This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the third in a 4-part series Leadership in Action , brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons connects with Lozano Smith CCS expert Brandon Krueger, Ed. D. and Partner Sarah Levitan Kaatz regarding building and sustaining a professional organizational culture.  This d...

This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the second in a 4-part series Leadership in Action , brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Whether your school district successfully passed a bond or parcel tax in years past or just this month, once those financial resources are accounted for, the process of moving forward with construction begins....

This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the first in a 4-part series Leadership in Action , brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Increasingly in recent years, the perception of governing board meetings have trended negative, with school leaders concerned over disruptions, lack of productivity, and more.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmo...

In this episode of our podcast, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith special education experts Aly Bivins and Josh Walden .  They discuss the recent trends and guidance in the arena of goal writing for special education students.  Aly and Josh provide insights on recent OAH decisions on point, and lessons learned from those due process outcomes. Show Notes & References 1:17 – Lozano Sm...

In this episode, host Sloan Simmons  engages with Lozano Smith charter school experts Courtney de Groof and Eric Barba .  The group discusses the recent Oklahoma Supreme Court decision to block the nation’s first proposed religious charter school and implications of this development here in California and more broadly. Show Notes & References 1:55 – Drummond vs. Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Char...

Join host Sloan Simmons as he discusses new legislative enactments and trending student issues impacting the 2024-2025 school year with Lozano Smith experts Kyle Raney and Kendra Tovey .  This episode covers a range of hot topic issues, from a new round of changes to Independent Study to AB 1955. Show Notes & References 1:17 – School recess (Senate Bill (SB) 291) (Client News Brief 45 –...

In this podcast, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith Title IX Practice Group Leaders Monica Batanero and Sarah Fama in a step-by-step discussion regarding the new Title IX regulations, as well as helpful context regarding various legal challenges pending around the country to the new regulations. Show Notes & References 1:48 – Overview of Title IX 3:48 – New Title IX Regulations 6:14...