Key Legal Issues For Schools

School business officials (SBOs) must, in many respects, serve as all things to all people in their workplaces. Put another way, SBOs must be knowledgeable about a wide range of legal issues ranging from contracts to setting policy to state biding laws let alone constitutional matters involving the rights of students and teachers. Aware of the fact that issues involving the law are at the heart of many of a SBO's duties, the chapters in this edited book have been written by a diverse array of individuals with experience as educational leaders in schools and/ or who possess significant expertise in the school law. In light of the need to keep SBOs up-to-date on many issues in the ever changing world of Education Law, this volume is divided into two parts. The first section deals with issues that primarily impact on the management of schools while the second deals with the rights of students and teachers. More specifically, each of the chapters is designed to examine a specific area about which SBOs need information. While no single book can ever hope to cover all of the myriad of legal topics that SBOs and other educational leaders must master in their professional lives, this book will serve as an up-to-date and ready source of information to help keep them abreast of the many changes in the ever evolving area of school law.

Here is a complete yet accessible guide to the laws that most often affect policies and procedures in educational institutions. A conversational, reader-friendly tone pervades the book; its practical, case-study approach makes the discussion of key legal issues and examples of landmark cases easy for the reader to understand. Its focus is the practice of "preventive law," allowing readers to recognize legal issues and challenges when they occur. Up-to-date cases involving subjects and situations that readers can easily relate to (school violence, inclusion, sexual harrassment, and other topical subjects) along with information about how to "brief" cases, help users quickly learn and disseminate often complex material. A full chapter on " parents' rights," unique to this book, ensures that readers understand the legal position of parents in the educational arena; a comprehensive appendix, "Resources for Administrators," familiarizes them with legislation that is pertinent to education. Coverage includes: torts and school liability, religion in schools, students with disabilities, students' rights, discipline, teachers' rights, and equal coverage under the law. "The" comprehensive resource for teachers, administrators, parents, and guardians, this book serves as an excellent desk reference for anyone involved or interested in the legal aspects of effective education.

Educational Law provides a comprehensive survey of the legal problems and issues that confront school administrators and policymakers. If there is a greater likelihood of litigation or error in a particular area of professional practice, the discussion is more extensive. The book is organized in accordance with the author's belief that students need to read cases to understand the subtlety and richness of the law, but for legal neophytes, cases without discussion and interpretation are often difficult to comprehend. Thus the text both explains the important concepts and principles of education law and presents court decisions to illuminate them. By employing this structure, the book combines the strengths of the traditional casebook and those of the legal treatise. It also discusses the implications of the law for educational policy and practice. Key features include the following: *Presentation--To aid comprehension, technical legal terms are carefully explained when first introduced and discussions of complex topics move logically from overview to elaboration of important details to summary of key topics and principles. *Cases--By integrating carefully edited cases into the analysis of legal issues, the book exposes students with little or no background in law to the subtlety and richness of legal thinking. *New Material--The third edition incorporates extensive treatment of new cases and legislation of the last five years. Topics that have been added or significantly expanded include: the No Child Left Behind Act, students rights--especially in the areas of free speech and search and seizure, vouchers and government assistance to private and religious schools, employment discrimination, racial and sexual harassment of students and school employees, affirmative action and voluntary school integration, equity and adequacy in school finance, issues relating to use of the Internet, and the law relating to special student populations. The table of cases contains about 250 more entries than in the second edition.

A practical, user-friendly approach to school law supported by carefully constructed information that is of immediate interest to classroom teachers, supervisors and school administrators. Key Features Maps out the court's decision-making process in an easy-to-understand format Illustrates the key aspects of a legal issue through case-studies in every chapter Explains complex cases with succinct case briefs that target legal laypersons and comprehensive chapter overviews that highlight important concepts Encourages dialogue with accompanying discussion questions for each case brief and case study Offers additional case briefs online at www.sagepub.com/aquilacasebriefs Intended Audience: This book is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students of school law and is a valuable resource for courses in school administration, supervision, and teacher education. "I find this book to be a very well done, comprehensive text, with useful activities and exceptional case briefs" —Dr. Christine Villani, Southern Connecticut State University "More than a comprehensive text, this is a reference work for any active school administrator. School Law for K–12 Educators will be found open on a desk more often than closed on the shelf." —Philip Huckins, New England College "The greatest strength is presentation of facts, narratives, cases, in a concise format with discussion questions and topics" —Audrey M. Clarke, California State University, Northridge "This comprehensive resource is thoughtfully designed with a focus on legal currency and relevancy. The case briefs enhance an already distinctive textbook." —Bradley Vance Balch, Indiana State University "Well done book, comprehensive, and easy to read for educators. The most exceptional portion of this book are the case studies, and the exceptionally well done case briefs, excellent instructional tools." —Dr. Christine Villani, Southern Connecticut State University

"From the growing presence and influence of technology to such issues as bullying and equality, this book has been designed to address and demystify the laws that greatly affect today's classroom teachers."--

Key Benefit: Gives pre- and in-service educators a concise, informative, comprehensive guide to the legal issues affecting their daily activities with students and teachers. Key Topics: The legal framework of public education; tort liability; church/state relations; instruction; student expression, association, and appearance; student classifications; rights of students with disabilities; student discipline; terms and conditions of employment; teachers' substantive constitutional rights; discrimination in employment; termination in employment; legal generalizations; selected Supreme Court decisions Market: Pre- and in-service educators

Softbound - New, softbound print book.