Featured Events
Special Education Symposium
Trusted, topical Special Education legal information
Presented twice each year, this event brings together Special Education practitioners from across California. Consistent with our focus on preventive law, leading F3 attorneys explore the latest legal updates and offer trusted guidance on complex regulations.
Student Services Legal Symposium
Our annual Student Services Legal Symposium for trusted legal information.
This virtual event is created to provide school administrators with the most current legal information to ensure our schools are responsive to general education student issues and promote a positive school climate for all students.
Student Data: Rights & Responsibilities Webinar
Namita S. Brown and Gretchen Shipley, F3 Law Partners, provided invaluable guidance on protecting student data and privacy during a recent webinar, “Student Data: Rights and Responsibilities,” presented in partnership with CASBO and California IT in Education.
Experience this crucial program in person at CASBO Con 2025! Join us on Tuesday, April 15th, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM for an expanded discussion.
Upcoming Events
California Association of Suburban School Districts
March 7, 2025
8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Namita Brown will be a special guest as the Legislative Session is underway, the Governor has issued his 2025-26 Budget proposal, and oversight and policy hearings begin soon. Learn the latest and how suburban district leaders are making their voices heard in the State Capitol.
In-person at Sheraton Grand on J Street, Sacramento with Virtual Option
Equity in Action: Rising to the Moment
March 14, 2025
4 p.m.
Amanda D’Amico to present to the Los Angles Education Partnership on the topic of Using the Law to Address Resistance to Serving Our Neurodiverse Population.
2025 CASBO Annual Conference & California School Business Expo
The 2025 CASBO Annual Conference & California School Business Expo, held at the San Jose Convention Center from April 14-17, 2025, is a key event for California school business professionals to connect, learn, and explore industry solutions.
- Gretchen Shipley and Ed Tech Jeopardy on Tue., April 15 from 8-9:30 a.m.
- Namita Brown and Bargaining Strategies on Wed., April 16 from 8-9:30 a.m.
Federal Education Law Certificate Program
January 14 to November 20, 2025
Namita Brown joins the esteemed faculty of the National School Attorney’s Association’s (NSAA) Federal Education Law Certificate Program. This program offers superintendents, district leaders, and their teams the opportunity to learn from top legal minds.
Past Events
Every Child Counts Symposium 2025
Jan 13-15, 2025
San Diego, CA
The Every Child Counts Symposium is a learning event for educators, offering workshops, keynotes, and networking opportunities. This conference caters to both new and experienced professionals in student services and special education. F3 Law Attoneys will present the latest knowledge and skills to provide a quality, whole-child education for all students.
Jonathan Read: Ensuring Meaningful Parent Participation; Evolving LRE Standard
Anne Sherlock & Karen Samman: Special Ed Showcase Showdown
Jennifer Nix: Hot Topics/Assessment
Dee Anna Hassanpour and Rebecca Diddams: Navigating Chronic Absenteeism
Cyndi Vargas: Building Trust With Parents: Proven Strategies to Prevent Due Process Hearings & Complaints
Cyndi Vargas & Jennifer Oliva: Inclusion
Collective Bargaining, ACSA Leadership Summit
Nov 14, 2024
San Diego, CA
Namita Brown to present at The Leadership Summit is ACSA’s premier professional development event for school leaders. This annual gathering of educators at all levels of administration is a celebration of the entire profession.
Purchasing and Procurement Pointers and Pitfalls: Legal Considerations
Nov. 21, 2024
10:00 am
San Diego, CA
Sarah Polito will present at The Annual CITE Conference offers a unique opportunity for educators and technology professionals to network, learn about the latest tech trends, and discover practical solutions for improving teaching and learning. This event is ideal for anyone involved in education technology, from classroom teachers to district leaders.
AI Policies in Education
Nov. 21, 2024
8:00 am
Des Moines, IA
Peter Fagen presents at the Iowa Association of School Boards’ annual conference, which offers opportunities for learning, networking, and exploring the latest trends and best practices in education.
Navigating First Amendment Rights in Education: Practical Tips for Educators
Wed, Oct 2, 2024
9:00 am – 11:00 am
Webinar
Join F3 Law for an ACSA workshop on First Amendment rights in schools. Learn to navigate free speech issues for students and staff during elections and policy changes. Topics include student speech, employee speech, board meetings, cell phone use, and protests. Get practical guidance and ensure compliance with district policies.
Critical Issues Facing LGBTQ+ Youth in Today’s Rapidly Changing Political Landscape
Sep 26, 2024
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. PT
Webinar
Grady Jensen, an F3 Law Clerk, authored a brief that was published by the Child Advocacy Institute at USD. His insightful work will be presented at the Institute’s upcoming Roundtable, where he will delve into legal strategies combating bans on gender-affirming care, explore broader legal challenges, and discuss community-based advocacy.
Title IX Team Compliance Training
Date Set Option One
Tue, Aug 6, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Tue, Aug 13, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Date Set Option Two
Wed, Aug 28, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wed, Sep 11, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Date Set Option Three
Wed, Sep 18, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wed, Sep 25, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Webinar
The U.S. Department of Education’s revised Title IX regulations take effect on August 1, 2024, and they include some big changes. Ensure your school or district is in compliance with ACSA and F3’s Title IX Team Compliance Training led by Jacqueline Litra, F3 partner and experienced Title IX trainer.
Navigating AI Legal Pitfalls: What ‘Every’ Leader Needs to Know
Jun 14, 2024
8:00 a.m. PT
Webinar
In this 45-minute webinar, Gretchen Shipley will help administrators understand the three crucial legal AI pitfalls their teachers need to avoid and what they should do instead.
Artificial Intelligence and Special Education – Legal Considerations
June 18, 2024
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. PT
Webinar
AI holds tremendous potential for special education to adapt to student needs, including augmenting assistive technology and personalizing learning. It can also assist staff with automated grading, analyzing student performance and modifying lesson plans. The implications of these capabilities need to be carefully considered before using AI tools.
Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health Monitoring – Legal Considerations
May 29, 2924
12:00 – 12:45 p.m. PT
Webinar
Mental health monitoring software can use AI to analyze student activity across web browsing, social media, and email to detect potential threats of self-harm, depression, even suicide. Using this software presents significant questions on the responsibility for districts on the duty to monitor and respond to behavior alerts.
CSEA Letter Panel: Intersection of Compensation and Extended Year Programs
May 22, 2024
1:00 p.m. PT
Webinar
This workshop provides an overview of school district financial obligations to employees working in extended year programs. Representatives from CASBO’s two Premier Partner law firms, including Seth Eckstein, will discuss essential Ed Code provisions and explore various perspectives and considerations regarding classified employee compensation and benefits for work performed beyond the instructional school year.
LRP’s National Institute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities
May 5-8, 2024
Savannah, GA
Jan Tomksy will present A Year in Review 2023 (and a Look Ahead). Enjoy a fast-paced review of the top recent legal cases you need to know. In her singular witty style, she’ll share her expert insights on how decisions from 2023 impact special education programs, as well as her predictions for future litigation trends and regulatory changes – so you’re ready for what’s to come.
Artificial Intelligence and Business Contracts – Legal Considerations
April 22, 2024
10:00 – 10:45 a.m. PT
Webinar
AI can present powerful tools for school districts, but all software agreements are contracts. Learn the essential elements to consider, including the question of parental consent and the unique data privacy challenges presented for both students and staff.
The Role of AI in Education Services and Legal Considerations
March 26, 2024
12 p.m. PT
The Urban Collaborative Webinar F3 Law’s Gretchen Shipley joins The Urban Collaborative to speak on a free interactive Zoom will cover the emerging field of AI in Special Education, from accommodation requests to assistive technology. Gretchen will dive into best practices for reviewing and adopting tools that incorporate AI; show you how to safeguard student data and confidential communications; and break down the ins and outs of parental consent. We hope you can join this dynamic discussion.
The Garnier Ruling: School Board Members’ Use of Social Media
March 21, 2024
9 a.m. PT
Webinar
On March 15, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, which impacts a school board member’s ability to control their social media pages. F3 Law represented and advocated on behalf of the California School Boards Association (CSBA) in the case.
Join us for a webinar with Peter Fagen and Gretchen Shipley, two of the amicus brief’s authors, as they offer insight into the legal and practical implications of this important case.
The Policy & Politics of March Layoff Statutes Webinar
Feb. 21, 2024
11 am-12 pm
CASBO
F3 Law’s Namita Brown is participating in a timely discussion on March layoffs hosted by CASBO CEO Tatia Davenport.
Given the uncertainty of the State’s fiscal condition and impacts of unmitigated mandates and declining enrollment, understanding the statutory provisions and layoff process is essential to 2024-25. The conversation will explore the challenges and obligations of using the relevant statutory provisions.
This event is free for CASBO members with advance registration.
IP at the Supreme Court Series: O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier & Lindke v. Freed
October 31, 2023
Hybrid
American University Washington College of Law regularly invites counsel of record and counsel for selected amici to offer post-argument reflections in intellectual property (and related) cases heard by the United States Supreme Court. These events are held on the afternoon of oral argument before the Court.
Issue: Whether a public official engages in state action subject to the First Amendment by blocking an individual from the official’s personal social-media account, when the official uses the account to feature their job and communicate about job-related matters with the public, but does not do so pursuant to any governmental authority or duty.
Panelist: Peter K. Fagen, Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP, Amicus Curiae Brief of California School Boards Association in Support of Petitioner
Title IX Team Compliance Training
January 16 and 23, 2024
Virtual
This training split into two three-hour segments over two days, is of critical importance at the start of the school year for all site and district administrators to understand appropriate Title IX procedures. It will cover the required components under the new Title IX rules for all Title IX team members, from Coordinators to Investigators, Decisionmakers/Appeal Decisionmakers, and Informal Resolution Facilitators. Topics will include:
- Definition of sexual harassment
- Scope of education programs and activities
- How to respond to formal and informal reports of sexual harassment
- Overview of the policy and grievance procedure requirements, including hearings, appeals, and informal resolution processes
- How to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment, conflicts of interest, and bias (including implicit bias)
- Issues of relevance to create investigation reports that fairly summarize relevant evidence
- Issues of relevance of questions and evidence, including when questions and evidence about a complainant’s sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant.
Presented by Jacqueline Litra in partnership with ACSA.
CAAASA Leadership Academy Training
August 12, 2023
Diane Marshall-Freeman will present on what school superintendents, deputy superintendents and associate superintendents need to know in leadership positions, including political and legal issues confronting superintendents.
Title IX Workshop Series
November 1, 15, and 21, 2022
Presented by ACSA and Jacqueline Litra
CAAASA Professional Development Summit
March 31, 2022
Sacramento Turbulent Times – Managing Meetings and Media
Presented by Diane Marshall-Freeman
CASBO Annual Conference & School Business Expo
March 29 – April 1, 2022
Sacramento Shedding Light on School Energy Projects & Procurements
Presented by Jessica Ehrlich, Sarah Polito
ACSA Negotiators’ Symposium
January 19 – 21, 2022 San Diego
Release Time, Association Leave or Union Officer Leave?
Presented by Carlos Villegas
Luncheon Keynote
Presented by Chris Keeler
What’s the Word? Communication Tips During Negotiations
Presented by Jordan Bilbeisi, Terilyn Finders
Layoffs and Reductions in Hours After AB 438
Presented by Elizabeth (Lisa) Mori, Seth Eckstein
Tips for Preparing Cabinet and Board for Negotiations
Presented by Peter Fagen, Terilyn Finders
How to Make Yourself Useful and Your Team More Effective at the Table
Presented by Peter Fagen, Jordan Bilbeisi
ACSA Every Child Counts Symposium
January 12 – 14, 2022 Palm Desert
Busy Intersection: Where HR and Special Education Intersect
Presented by Namita Brown, Summer Dalessandro
Table Talks
Presented by Dee Ann Hassanpour, Laurie Reynolds, Lyndsy Rodgers, Elizabeth Schwartz, Lenore Silverman, Ankita Thakkar, Madisyn Ukrainetz
My Name Is: A Legal and Practical Framework for Affirming Students’ Identities
Presented by Wes Parsons
Yes? No? None of the Above? Navigating Parental Consent
Presented by Jonathan Read
Legislative Review
Presented by Cynthia Vargas
Title IX Sexual Harassment
Presented by Jacqueline Litra
Reopening Schools Webinar
Friday, August 28, 2020
Surplus Property Webinar
Thursday, September 3, 2020