草莓社区

草莓社区 Education Law and Policy Institute

Tuesday, June 23, 2026 
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. CST
Reception 5:00–6:00 p.m. CST

草莓社区 School of Law
25 E. Pearson St., Chicago, IL
Power Rogers & Smith Ceremonial Courtroom, 10th Floor

This seminar addresses important developments in education law and policy during the past year. The program will feature:

• a Supreme Court update;
• a presentation on educational equity in public school districts and charter schools;
• perspectives of school leaders on navigating the current immigration landscape;
• an update on Title IX;
• an update on a recent federal case involving religious displays in schools; and
• legislative and policy updates from the Illinois State Board of Education.

This program was approved by the Illinois MCLE Board for 5 hours of general Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit.鈥疌LE credit is only available for those attending in-person. The event and CLE credit are offered free of charge. 

Virtual Segment: The segment entitled “No Longer Set in Stone: The Recent Federal Court of Appeals Decision Regarding Display of the Ten Commandments in Classrooms with Drs. Chris Thomas and Jamie Kudlats will be presented via Zoom webinar from 3:30–4:15 p.m. CST / 4:30–5:15 p.m. EST. This segment is being live-streamed for the in-person audience and can also be viewed virtually.

Agenda

11:00–11:05 a.m. Welcome and Introduction

• Miranda Johnson, JD, MPA, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Education Law and Policy Institute, 草莓社区 School of Law

11:05 a.m.–12:20 p.m. Supreme Court Update

• Mark Walsh, Contributing Writer, Education Week, ABA Journal, and SCOTUSblog

Break and pick up boxed lunches

12:45–1:30 p.m. Educational Equity: Challenges Facing Public School Districts and Charter Schools

• Ariel Johnson (Loyola JD  ’14), Executive Director, DC Charter School Alliance

1:30–2:15 p.m. Immigration and Schools: Perspectives from School Leaders on Navigating the Current Landscape 

• Sheila Barlow, Principal, Powell Elementary School
• Christopher Graves, EdD, Principal, Jordan Community School
• Raul Magdaleno, Principal, Thomas Kelly College Preparatory High School

Break

2:30–3:15 p.m. Title IX Update

• Amy Kosanovich Dickerson (Loyola JD  ’07), Partner, Franczek, P.C.
• Emily Tulloch (Loyola JD  ’18), Partner, Franzcek, P.C.

Break

3:30–4:15 p.m. No Longer Set in Stone: The Recent Federal Court of Appeals Decision Regarding Display of the Ten Commandments in Classrooms* (via Zoom Webinar)

Chalk & Gavel Podcast Co-Hosts:

• Chris Thomas, JD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy, University of Florida
• Jamie Kudlats, PhD, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, University of North Carolina Charlotte

 * Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights Indep. Sch. Dist., 2026 WL 1078691 (5th Cir. 2026)

4:15–5:00 p.m. Illinois Education Law & Policy Update

• Hector Rodriguez, Director, State Legislative Relations, Illinois State Board of Education

5:00–6:00 p.m. Reception