Beyond the Classroom: Comprehensive Insurance for Educational Institutions

Educational institutions have been caught in the crosshairs of culture wars and political disputes, and it’s taking a toll. A survey from the National Education Association (NEA) found that 55% of educators are ready to leave the profession earlier than they had previously planned due to high levels of burn out. There’s also an increased risk of litigation. An insurance package that includes both robust employee benefits and comprehensive liability insurance can help educational institutions manage their mounting risks while taking care of teachers and other staff members.

Lawsuits Are on the Rise

According to K-12 Dive, Andrew Manna, lawyer and chair-elect of the National School Attorneys Association, says that lawsuits involving parental rights are increasing as legislation evolves. Litigation isn’t just a concern for the K-12 segment. Higher Ed Dive warns that 2025 could bring increased litigation against universities.

Hot topic issues include LGBTQ+, Title XI protections, DEI, tuition costs, immigration, free speech and school performance. Many lawsuits have made headlines, including:

• Colleges are being sued for collusion over tuition costs. According to Business Insider, a lawsuit alleges that 40 elite colleges colluded to increase tuition by approximately $6,200 more than it should have been.
• The University of California is being sued over affirmative action practices. According to Daily Bruin, the lawsuit alleges that the university gave preference to Hispanic and Black applicants and discriminated against Asian American and White applicants.
• Colleges are being sued over financial aid. According to Reuters, the lawsuit alleges that 17 elite universities favored wealthy applicants and that more than 224,000 students did not receive the financial aid they should have over a period of two decades.
• A school district is being sued over LGBTQ+ bullying. According to com, the lawsuit alleges that district staff members did not intervene to stop frequent bullying against LGBTQ+ students.
• A school is being sued over Title IX violations. According to Spectrum News, a cross-country runner was bumped down to the junior varsity team and missed the varsity cross-country meet after a transgender athlete beat her time, and when students wore shirts to protest this, the school reported made them remove or cover the shirts. The lawsuit alleges that the school violated both Title IX and free speech rights.
• A school is being sued over transgender policies. According to ABC 3340 News, the parents of an elementary school student in Colorado have sued the school district over a policy that has transgender students sharing rooms with cisgender classmates on overnight trips.
• A school is being sued for forcing teachers to use students’ preferred pronouns. According to Wisconsin Public Radio, a teacher says she was fired for not using the preferred pronouns of transgender students. The lawsuit claims the school violated the student’s rights to freedom of religion and protection against discrimination based on religion.

The Role of Insurance for Educational Institutions

As educational institutions face mounting litigation risks, it’s increasingly important to maintain comprehensive insurance solutions. If your institution is named in a lawsuit, liability insurance can help with the defense as well as any settlements or awards. In addition to alleviating the financial burden associated with lawsuits, comprehensive insurance can also provide peace of mind, allowing staff to focus on providing an education. However, it’s necessary to ensure that the right coverage types are in place.

• Do you have coverage for different types of lawsuits? Educational organizations can face lawsuits from students, parents, teachers and other stakeholders, and different types of claims may be handled under different types of policies. Common liability policies that schools need include employment practices liability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, directors and officers insurance, abuse and molestation insurance, general liability insurance, professional liability insurance, cyber insurance, but others may be needed as well.
• Do these policies provide sufficient coverage? Low limits, sub-limits and exclusions can chip away at coverage. It’s important to understand exactly what coverage is provided and whether it is sufficient.
• Does your employee benefits package meet the needs of your team? Education can be a stressful career, and recent cultural and political controversies are adding to the stress. A robust employee benefits package should enhance wellbeing and reduce turnover.

Heffernan Insurance Brokers provides comprehensive insurance solutions for educational organizations, including K-12 schools, colleges or universities, vocational or trade schools, online programs and tutoring programs. We can customize an insurance package to manage your risks and take care of your staff. Learn more.