Matt Cohen & Associates

08/17/2026

We are excited to share that Matt Cohen has been selected as a 2027 Illinois Super Lawyer!

This is a distinction he has held since 2007 that is awarded to only 5 percent of Illinois attorneys.

We shared this news, along with thoughts on how AI is impacting education and the teacher turnover crisis, in our August Newsletter.

08/10/2026

Check out this start of school checklist, shared by our wonderful advocate Elizabeth Hooper MCA Spedlaw . Another tool in your pocket to ensure strong supports at school from the very first day.

Steps to Prepare for the Start of the School Year

07/31/2026

As we look towards the new school year, we are keeping an eye on how CPS is dealing with budget strains. Here are two articles on CPS funding that you should be aware of. All students deserve access to a well resourced public education. No exceptions.

Latino High Schools Hit especially hard by teacher cuts in CPS budget: https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/07/29/latino-high-schools-hit-especially-hard-by-teacher-cuts-in-cps-budget-heading-for-vote?utm_source=Newsletter_Daily-Rundown-Member&utm_medium=WBEZEmail&utm_campaign=Daily_Newsletter_Daily-Rundown_Sponsored_20260730&utm_content=7/30/2026&DE=

How CPS copes with staggering rise in special ed needs and costs: https://www.wbez.org/education/2026/07/18/cps-special-education-chicago-public-schools?utm_source=Newsletter_Daily-Rundown-Member&utm_medium=WBEZEmail&utm_campaign=Daily_Newsletter_Daily-Rundown_Sponsored_20260720&utm_content=7/20/2026&DE=

A WBEZ analysis shows high schools that enroll mostly Latino students are losing 7% of their classroom teachers, the most pronounced loss under Chicago Public Schools’ proposed budget. The school board is scheduled to vote on the spending plan Thursday.

07/24/2026

CPS is chronically underfunded and often faces staff layoffs. CPS has also been facing the double whammy of declining enrollment and an increasing percecentage of students qualifying for special education. At the same time, the frequent changes in funding and staff reorganization create
confusion and inefficiency in the operation of CPS programs, causing problems for the staff, the students and the parents. Consistent, equitable
funding and management should be an ongoing priority.

The district laid off a similar number of central office and citywide employees last year as it faced a similar budget deficit.

07/22/2026

The DOJ's move to label Major ADA Guidance as "not enforceable" is a move to further muddy the waters around the rights of disabled people.

The Trump administration is tossing aside key guidance that federal officials have used to steer enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act for more than a decade.

07/17/2026

We need your help! We are planning our webinar series for the 2026-2027 school year and would like to know what kinds of questions you have for our team of attorneys and advocates.

A few past webinar topics we have done (which are recorded and always accessible on our website) include:
🔹 Going Back to School Strategies
🔹 Autism - Myths, Realities and Advocacy Strategies
🔹 Building Effective Home-School Communication Strategies
🔹 Bullying: When Your Child/Student is Being Bullied
🔹 And more!

Please comment below or direct message us with ideas about webinar topics you would like to see!

07/13/2026

Up First from NPR · Episode

04/06/2026

Did you know that we offer IEP Checkups?

As we approach summer, IEP checkups are a great tool for ensuring your student's IEP will be supportive for them into the next school year 🔆

Call us: 866-787-9270
Email us: [email protected]