The Supreme Court in 1985 first addressed the issue of balance between a student's right to privacy as stated in the Fourth Amendment and school officials' need to maintain safety. This chapter summarizes the case, explores the meaning of the court opinion, and briefly discusses other issues. The case involved a 14-year-old girl (T.L.O.) whose…

Wisconsin law requires school compliance with the eye safety code. Administrators or coordinators should hold monthly inspections, as well as annual meetings to explain the program and assign responsibilities. Safety coordinators should analyze activity hazards, and faculty should communicate the information to students. Eye equipment must meet…

Discusses the problem of using asbestos to insulate heating and air-conditioning systems in schools and mixing asbestos into ceiling plaster for fireproofing and noise control. Suggests that the Environmental Protection Agency's plan for asbestos removal may be causing problems where none exist. (TW)

This paper is part of a collection of 54 papers from the 48th annual conference of the Education Law Association held in November 2002. It addresses postsecondary campus safety. It discusses the changes in the concept of in loco parentis on college campuses; the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990; and legal principles applicable to…

States and individual school districts are taking action to avoid hiring people with criminal records by requiring background checks for school employees. Advocates of more stringent measures propose more consistency and cooperation among states and a database of any indictments and convictions for child-abuse crimes. (MLF)

Earthquakes are a perpetual threat to California's school buildings. School administrators must be aware that hazard mitigation means much more than simply having a supply of water bottles in the school; it means getting everyone involved in efforts to prevent tragedies from occurring in school building in the event of an earthquake. The PTA in…

Prepared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this document provides information on many environmental hazards young children may be exposed to today in school buildings. Topics discussed include: (1) the definition, location, and health hazards of asbestos as well as responsible management practices, current legal requirements, and…

This document was prepared in an effort to help science teachers, administrators, and school staff members in California understand and avoid situations in which accidents could occur in the science laboratory or on field trips and outdoor education experiences. It contains major sections on: (1) first aid (including information on animal and…

This publication provides an overview of U.S. Department of Education programs authorized and funded under federal law for fiscal year 2008. This reference guide also includes information on the laboratories, centers, and other facilities funded by the Department that provide important resources for education. Readers will find funding…

This report provides the most recent national indicators on school crime and safety. Some of these indicators document that student safety has improved. For example, the victimization rate of students ages 12-18 at school declined from 73 victimizations per 1,000 students in 2003 to 55 per 1,000 students victimizations in 2004. However, other…

Calls for accountability in America's schools have created increased responsibilities for educational leaders. In this article, we describe and discuss a study of elementary, middle, and high school principals' perceptions of the state-wide educational accountability program in North Carolina. The respondents indicated that the state's…

With the exception of New York City, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code applies to each and every facility owned or operated by a school district or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES). Section 155.3 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education applies to all school buildings except for those within…

The National Governors' Association Task Force on School Facilities termed $250 billion worth of underused and poorly maintained public school facilities a disgrace. The governors believe that no community should be hampered by state laws or regulations governing usage for community education purposes. States should act immediately to restore…

This brief discusses the benefits of small schools and whether schools can be too small. For years, it was thought that larger schools could offer more comprehensive instructional programs of greater quality at lower costs than smaller schools. However, recent research indicates that larger may not be better, and that smaller schools may in fact…

Every year, accidents claim the lives of thousands of children and many thousands more are injured. A need exists for schools to teach children the important components of safe behavior and safe conditions; safety instruction in the elementary schools cannot be left to chance. The inclusion of safety education across all elementary levels and…