# § 2618. Special rules concerning employees of local educational agencies
**(a)** **Application**
**(1)** **In general** Except as otherwise provided in this section, the rights (including the rights under section 2614 of this title, which shall extend throughout the period of leave of any employee under this section), remedies, and procedures under this subchapter shall apply to—
**(A)** any “local educational agency” (as defined in section 7801 of title 20) and an eligible employee of the agency; and
**(B)** any private elementary or secondary school and an eligible employee of the school.
**(2)** **Definitions** For purposes of the application described in paragraph (1):
**(A)** **Eligible employee** The term “eligible employee” means an eligible employee of an agency or school described in paragraph (1).
**(B)** **Employer** The term “employer” means an agency or school described in paragraph (1).
**(b)** **Leave does not violate certain other Federal laws** 20 U.S.C. 1400section 794 of this title42 U.S.C. 2000d
A local educational agency and a private elementary or secondary school shall not be in violation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( et seq.), , or title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( et seq.), solely as a result of an eligible employee of such agency or school exercising the rights of such employee under this subchapter.
**(c)** **Intermittent leave or leave on reduced schedule for instructional employees**
**(1)** **In general** Subject to paragraph (2), in any case in which an eligible employee employed principally in an instructional capacity by any such educational agency or school requests leave under subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 2612(a)(1) of this title or under section 2612(a)(3) of this title that is foreseeable based on planned medical treatment and the employee would be on leave for greater than 20 percent of the total number of working days in the period during which the leave would extend, the agency or school may require that such employee elect either—
**(A)** to take leave for periods of a particular duration, not to exceed the duration of the planned medical treatment; or
**(B)** to transfer temporarily to an available alternative position offered by the employer for which the employee is qualified, and that—
**(i)** has equivalent pay and benefits; and
**(ii)** better accommodates recurring periods of leave than the regular employment position of the employee.
**(2)** **Application** section 2612(e)(2) of this title
The elections described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) shall apply only with respect to an eligible employee who complies with .
**(d)** **Rules applicable to periods near conclusion of academic term** The following rules shall apply with respect to periods of leave near the conclusion of an academic term in the case of any eligible employee employed principally in an instructional capacity by any such educational agency or school:
**(1)** **Leave more than 5 weeks prior to end of term** If the eligible employee begins leave under section 2612 of this title more than 5 weeks prior to the end of the academic term, the agency or school may require the employee to continue taking leave until the end of such term, if—
**(A)** the leave is of at least 3 weeks duration; and
**(B)** the return to employment would occur during the 3-week period before the end of such term.
**(2)** **Leave less than 5 weeks prior to end of term** If the eligible employee begins leave under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of section 2612(a)(1) of this title or under section 2612(a)(3) of this title during the period that commences 5 weeks prior to the end of the academic term, the agency or school may require the employee to continue taking leave until the end of such term, if—
**(A)** the leave is of greater than 2 weeks duration; and
**(B)** the return to employment would occur during the 2-week period before the end of such term.
**(3)** **Leave less than 3 weeks prior to end of term** section 2612(a)(1) of this titlesection 2612(a)(3) of this title
If the eligible employee begins leave under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of or under during the period that commences 3 weeks prior to the end of the academic term and the duration of the leave is greater than 5 working days, the agency or school may require the employee to continue to take leave until the end of such term.
**(e)** **Restoration to equivalent employment position** section 2614(a)(1)(B) of this title
For purposes of determinations under (relating to the restoration of an eligible employee to an equivalent position), in the case of a local educational agency or a private elementary or secondary school, such determination shall be made on the basis of established school board policies and practices, private school policies and practices, and collective bargaining agreements.
**(f)** **Reduction of amount of liability** section 2617(a)(1)(A) of this title
If a local educational agency or a private elementary or secondary school that has violated this subchapter proves to the satisfaction of the court that the agency, school, or department had reasonable grounds for believing that the underlying act or omission was not a violation of this subchapter, such court may, in the discretion of the court, reduce the amount of the liability provided for under to the amount and interest determined under clauses (i) and (ii), respectively, of such section.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–3, title I, § 108, Feb. 5, 1993, 107 Stat. 17; Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 394(e), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4027; Pub. L. 107–110, title X, § 1076(v), Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 2093; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title V, § 585(a)(3)(H), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 131; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(hh), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2175.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is title VI of , , , which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1400 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see and Tables.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (b), is , , . Title VI of the Act is classified generally to subchapter V (§ 2000d et seq.) of chapter 21 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
### Amendments
2015—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to .
2008—Subsecs. (c)(1), (d)(2), (3). inserted “or under ” after “”.
2002—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). substituted “” for “”.
1994—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). substituted “” for “”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 2015 Amendment
Amendment by effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as a note under , Education.
### Effective Date of 2002 Amendment
Amendment by effective , except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Education.
### Effective Date
Section effective 6 months after , except that, in the case of collective bargaining agreements in effect on that effective date, section applicable on the earlier of (1) the date of termination of such agreement, or (2) the date that occurs 12 months after , see , set out as a note under .