Camille Sanders, a Michigan assistant principal transferred to a teaching position, sued the district and lost. The appeals court reversed the decision, claiming the district hadn't properly notified Sanders of her original contract's nonrenewal. Similar cases in three other states are discussed. State statutes may not adequately protect…

Describes an Illinois case involving the demotion of an elementary school principal with 5 years of experience to a classroom teacher. The former principal sued the district claiming that her state due-process rights were violated. The state court disagreed, entering a summary judgment for the district; later affirmed on appeal. Reviews other…

Describes four legally sensitive scenarios involving student access to the Internet and recommends appropriate strategies to assist principals in reducing exposure to legal action. (PKP)

In states that do not have legislation or regulations providing specific and strong requirements for gifted education (i.e., individually defined and enforceable rights akin to those under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act [IDEA]), the "case law"--the published hearing/review officer and court decisions concerning who is…

Child abuse is an issue of growing public concern. Seven questions and answers are presented pertaining to the legal risks and responsibilities of school personnel in reporting cases of child abuse. (TE)

Examination of 216 court decisions from 1977 to 1981 and a survey of 97 higher education officials from the Southeast showed that little growth had occurred in faculty employment cases and that administrators have a generally inaccurate perception of these judicial developments. Copies of the survey questionnaires are appended. (RW)

Provides an update of the case law dealing with assaults on school personnel, including an illustrative Arizona case followed by a question-and-answer discussion posing certain hypothetical situations concerning the facts and law of the case. Draws implications for policy and practice. (Contains 13 references.) (PKP)

Recounts the case of Lauren, a moderately disabled student suspended for disruptive, aggressive behavior before the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was amended. The Seventh Court of Appeals upheld the suspension. The majority of such cases have gone against districts, reflecting a relatively high judicial standard of dangerous…

In its landmark decision in "Goss v. Lopez" (1975), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that for a suspension of 10 days or fewer, public school officials must provide the student with at least the following minimum of procedural protection on the basis of the Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause: oral (or written) notice of the charges…

Examines a number of questions relating to the use of school facilities for meetings of student prayer groups. Answers those questions with reference to legislation and court decisions. (FL)

Reviews the legislative and judicial history of state and federal laws relevant to the education of Spanish-speaking students and attempts to provide legally operational definitions of important terms and concepts related to the provision of equal educational opportunities for such students. (JG)

A hypothetical case of denial of tenure by a public institution to a faculty member with persistent personality conflicts with colleagues is the context for a discussion of related legal issues and the results of previous court litigation. (MSE)

A comparison of teacher dismissal cases in West Virginia and Pennsylvania concludes with recommendations for administrators: closely following procedureal protection provisions in termination proceedings; adhering to evaluation requirements in dismissals for incompetency; and evaluating teachers honestly. (MJL)

Examines a Connecticut case concerning the rights of a disruptive handicapped student in light of P.L. 94-142. (IRT)

In "Rockdale v Weil" the court declared that transferring a principal to a position with lower responsibility and prestige but higher salary was not a demotion and not subject to due process. (JM)