This chapter covers the nearly 250 cases reported in 1987 involving precollegiate public-sector employees. Those cases where purely procedural issues are involved are omitted, and procedural issues in the remaining cases are deemphasized. Although no United States Supreme Court cases in 1987 related to school employees, those from prior years are mentioned if necessary for an understanding of current cases. As in previous years, the section on dismissal, nonrenewal, demotion, and discipline contains a large number of cases, with many revolving around the issue of board compliance with district and state policies. Legal issues covered by the review include the following: (1) discrimination in employment by race, sex, age, or handicap; (2) substantive constitutional rights including freedom of speech and association, along with issues of privacy and substantive due process; (3) procedural process; (4) issues of dismissal, nonrenewal, demotion, and discipline (for insubordination, unprofessional conduct, immorality, or incompetence); (5) reduction in force and involuntary leaves of absence; (6) contractual disputes; (7) tenure; and (8) certification, decertification, revocation, and suspension. (MLF)