This text addresses legal principles applicable to practitioners in a succinct but comprehensive manner. It uniquely blends a detailed treatment of landmark cases with a thorough discussion of the legal context, trends, and generalizations to guide all school personnel in their daily activities. Information in this text will help alleviate concerns voiced by educators who either don't know the legal concepts that govern schools or feel that the scales of justice have been tipped against them.

Table of Contents:
1                    Legal Framework of Public Education State Control of Education Legislative Power             State Agencies             Local School Boards             School-based Councils Federal Role in Education             United States Constitution                         General Welfare Clause                         Commerce Clause                         Obligation of Contract Clause                         First Amendment                         Fourth Amendment                         Fifth Amendment                         Ninth Amendment                         Fourteenth Amendment             Federal Legislation                         Funding Laws                         Civil Rights Laws             Federal Administrative Agencies Function and Structure of the Judicial System             State Courts             Federal Courts             Judicial Trends Conclusion   2          Church-State Relations Constitutional Framework Religious Influences in Public Schools Silent Prayer Statutes School-Sponsored Versus Private Devotionals Weisman and Its Progeny  Student Elections to Authorize Prayers                         Pledge of Allegiance Religious Displays and Holiday Observances Proselytization in the Classroom Equal Access for Religious Expression and Groups Equal Access Act School Access for Community Groups Distribution of Religious Literature Accommodations for Religious Beliefs Release-Time Programs Religious Absences Religious Exemptions from Secular Activities                                 Observances                                 Curriculum Components     Religious Challenges to the Secular Curriculum The Origin of Humanity Other Challenges State Aid to Private Schools Aid for Student Services       Aid to Encourage Educational Choice Tax Relief Measures Vouchers Conclusion          3          School Attendance and Instructional Issues Compulsory School Attendance Alternatives to Public Schooling Health Requirements Residency Requirements School Fees Transportation Textbooks, Courses, and Materials The School Curriculum Requirements and Restrictions Censorship of Instructional Materials              Parental Challenges              Censorship by Policymakers              Electronic Censorship Student Proficiency Testing Educational Malpractice/Instructional Negligence Instructional Privacy Rights Student Records Pupil Protection and Parental Rights Laws Conclusion   4          Students’ Rights in Noninstructional Matters Freedom of Speech and Press Unprotected Expression Defamatory Expression Obscene, Lewd, or Vulgar Expression Inflammatory Expression Advocacy of Illegal Activity for Minors Commercial Expression School-Sponsored Expression Type of Forum Hazelwood and Its Progeny Protected Private Expression Prior Restraints Post-Expression Discipline Anti-Harassment Policies Electronic Expression Time, Place, and Manner Regulations Future Directions          Student-Initiated Clubs          Student Appearance Hairstyle Attire                Dress Codes                                  Student Uniforms          Extracurricular Activities Attendance, Training, and Recruitment Regulations Restrictions on Eligibility Fees for Participation Other Conditions          Conclusion   5                    Student Classifications Legal Context Classifications Based on Race                         Pre-Brown Litigation                         De Jure Segregation in the South                         Distinguishing Between De Jure and De Facto Segregation                         Fashioning Appropriate Remedies Rezoning and the Closing, Reopening, or Construction of    Schools                                     Busing                                     Programmatic Options                                     Interdistrict Remedies                                     Staff Desegregation Remedies                                     Fiscal Responsibilities                         Achieving Unitary Status                         Postunitary Transfer and School Assignment                         Race as a Factor in Admission to Private Schools                         Race Discrimination and Matriculated Students Classifications Based on Native Language Classifications Based on Ability or Achievement                         Tracking Schemes                         Gifted and Talented Students Classifications Based on Age Classifications Based on Sex                         Interscholastic Sports                                     Single-sex Teams                                     Fewer Sports Opportunities for Females                                     Modified Sports and Separate Seasons for Females                         Academic Programs                                     Single-sex Schools                                     Sex-segregated Courses and Programs                                     Sex-based Admission Criteria                         Sexual Harassment of Students                                     Employee-to-Student Harassment                                     Student-to-Student Harassment             Marriage and Pregnancy Conclusion   6                    Rights of Students with Disabilities Legal Context                         Rehabilitation Act                         Americans with Disabilities Act                         Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Individualized Education Programs                         Initial Identification                         Evaluation                         IEP Team                         IEP Preparation                         Free Appropriate Public Education                         Least Restrictive Environment                         Private Schools Public Placement of a Child in a Private School                         Parental Placement of a Child in a Private School                         Services Available in Private Schools                         Change of Placement Related Services                         Transportation                         Psychological Services                         Health and Nursing Services Extended School Year Participation in Sports Discipline                         Suspension                         Expulsion Procedural Safeguards                         Stay-Put Provision                         Informal Meeting                         Mediation                         Impartial Due Process Hearing                         State Review                         Civil Action                         Remedies and Attorneys’ Fees Conclusion   7                    Student Discipline Conduct Regulations Expulsions and Suspensions             Expulsions                         Procedural Requirements                         Zero-Tolerance Policies             Suspensions                         Procedural Requirements                         Disciplinary Transfers to Alternative Educational Placements                         Anti-Bullying Laws Corporal Punishment             Constitutional Issues             State Law Academic Sanctions             Absences             Misconduct Search and Seizure             Application of Fourth Amendment to Students             Lockers             Search of Personal Possessions             Personal Search of Students                         Personal Searches                         Strip Searches                         Seizure of Students             Use of Metal Detectors             Drug-Detecting Canines             Drug Testing             Police Involvement Remedies for Unlawful Disciplinary Actions Conclusion   8                    Terms and Conditions of Employment Licensure or Certification Employment by Local School Boards             Employment Requirements             Assignment of Personnel and Duties Contracts             Term and Tenure Contracts             Supplemental Contracts             Domestic Partner Benefits             Leaves of Absence Personnel Evaluation Personnel Records Other Employment Issues             Using Copyrighted Materials             Reporting Suspected Child Abuse Conclusion   9        Substantive Constitutional Rights Freedom of Expression Legal Principles Application of the Legal Principles Prior Restraint and Channel Rules Expressing Personal Views in the Classroom             Academic Freedom Course Content Teaching Strategies                              Adequate Notice                               Relevancy                               Threat of Disruption                               Community Standards Freedom of Association Political Affiliations Political Activity Campaigning for Issues and Candidates Holding Public Office Personal Appearance Privacy Rights Search and Seizure Lifestyle Controversies Conclusion   10        Discrimination in Employment Legal Context                         Fourteenth Amendment                         Title VII                                     Qualifying as an Employer                                     Disparate Treatment and Impact                                     Retaliation                                     Relief Race and National-Origin Discrimination                         Hiring and Promotion Practices                                     Testing Adverse Decisions                         Affirmative Action Sex Discrimination                         Hiring and Promotion Practices                         Compensation Practices                         Termination, Nonrenewal, and Denial of Tenure                                     Sexual Harassment                                                 Quid Pro Quo                                                 Hostile Environment                         Pregnancy Discrimination Retirement Benefits Sexual-Preference Discrimination                         Access to Benefits                         Harassment                         Adverse Employment Decisions Religious Discrimination                         Hiring and Promotion Practices                         Accommodation                                     Attire Restrictions                                     Personal Leave                                     Job Assignments and Responsibilities                         Adverse Employment Decisions Age Discrimination                         Hiring and Promotion Practices                         Compensation and Benefits                         Adverse Employment Actions Termination, Nonrenewal, Reduction-in-Force                                     Transfer                         Retaliation                         Retirement Disability Discrimination                         Qualifying as Disabled                         Otherwise Qualified                         Reasonable Accommodation                         Termination and Nonrenewal Conclusion   11                Termination of Employment Procedural Due Process in General             Dismissal             Nonrenewal             Establishing Protected Property and Liberty Interests                         Property Interest                         Liberty Interest Procedural Requirements in Discharge Proceedings             Notice             Hearing                         Adequate Notice of Hearing                         Waiver of Hearing                         Impartial Hearing                         Evidence                         Findings of Fact Dismissal for Cause             Incompetency             Immorality             Insubordination             Neglect of Duty             Unprofessional Conduct                         Other Good and Just Cause             Reduction in Force Remedies for Violations of Protected Rights             Liability of School Officials             Liability of School Districts             Remedies                         Damages                         Reinstatement                         Attorneys’ Fees Conclusion   12                Labor Relations Employees’ Bargaining Rights in the Private and Public Sectors Teachers’ Statutory Bargaining Rights Scope of Negotiations             Governmental Policy             Selected Bargaining Subjects                         Class Size                         School Calendar                         Teacher Evaluation                         Reduction in Force                         Nonrenewal and Tenure Decisions Union Security Provisions             Dues and Service Fees             Exclusive Privileges Grievances Negotiation Impasse Strikes Conclusion   13                Tort Liability Negligence                         Duty                                     Supervision                                     Instruction                                     Maintenance of Buildings, Grounds, and Equipment                                     Duty to Warn                         Breach of Duty/Standard of Care                                     Reasonable Person                                     Invitee, Licensee, Trespasser                         Proximate Cause                         Injury                         Defenses Against Negligence                                     Governmental Immunity                                     Contributory Negligence                                     Comparative Negligence                                     Assumption of Risk Intentional Torts                         Assault and Battery                         False Imprisonment                         Intentional Infliction of Mental Distress Defamation                         Private and Public Persons                         Veracity of Statements                         Fact versus Opinion                         Privilege Damages Conclusion   14                Summary of Legal Generalizations Generalizations Conclusion   Glossary   Selected Supreme Court Decisions   Appendix   Index