News & Resources

Webinar Recording: “The Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Impacts on Local Education Agencies”

May 5, 2020 | Publications

As local education agencies (LEAs) prepare to bring more workers back and slowly reopen their offices and school sites, managing employee absences becomes more important and difficult than ever. LEAs need to be prepared to address these absences through the newly enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and existing leave provisions, to ensure continuity of services and cost control when balancing these absences and hiring substitutes.

The FFCRA requires employers, including LEAs, to provide an additional full or partial paid leave for their employees due to COVID-19 related reasons. The FFCRA includes two additional leave laws: (1) the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA); and (2) the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA).

DWK attorneys Ellen Wu and Chelsea Olson-Murphy present an overview of the FFCRA, the interplay of the FFCRA with existing leave entitlements under federal and state law, collective bargaining agreements, and Board policies, and also, lawfully and consistently processing employee leave requests relating to COVID-19. Attendees will be provided with examples of common employee leave requests that have arisen or will arise during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to comply with such requests.

Access Recorded Webinar

View Presentation Slides

Read DWK Responses to Webinar Questions

 

RELATED POSTS

2026 Adjusted Bid Thresholds for Contracts

  Effective January 1, 2026, the bid threshold for contracts awarded by school districts pursuant to Public Contract Code (PCC) section 20111(a) increased from $114,800 to $119,100 (link available here). The...

AB 538 Expands District Obligations Regarding Certified Payroll Records for Public Works Projects

  Synopsis: Effective January 1, 2026, Assembly Bill 538 (Berman) (“AB 538”) expands accountability and enforcement measures for public records requests made to awarding bodies for certified payroll records (“CPRs”)...

SB 543 Exempts Certain Accessory Dwelling Units From School Impact Fees

  On October 10, 2025, the Governor approved Senate Bill 543 (McNerney) (“SB 543”), which, among other things, now prohibits school districts from imposing school impact fees on accessory dwelling...