Bullying is a common occurrence in U.S.'s schools and is currently at the forefront of national attention. Unfortunately, students with disabilities are frequently the targets of peer-on-peer bullying. The purpose of this article is to examine the legal ramifications when students with disabilities are bullied in school settings. We address court…

Ritha Smith, assistant superintendent, and Seth Hanson, principal, are faced with a difficult decision. Taylor Harper is a transgender student who identifies as male and is openly attracted to females. Taylor's parents, Lane and Morgan Harper, are lesbians; they are fully supportive of their child's identification and are well versed in their…

School-Parent Compacts are a component of school-level parental involvement policies, and must be developed by the school, teacher, and parents as a description of how parents, the entire school staff, and students themselves will work together for improved student academic achievement. This District of Columbia Public Schools School Year…

The Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) does the following: (1) Clarifies the relationship between bullying and discriminatory harassment under the civil rights laws enforced by the Department of Education's (ED) Office for Civil Rights (OCR); (2) Explains how student misconduct that falls under an anti-bullying policy also may trigger responsibilities…

In recent years, many state departments of education and local school districts have taken steps to reduce bullying in schools. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) fully supports these efforts. Bullying fosters a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair the physical and psychological health of its victims and create…

This report details the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights' (OCRs') accomplishments in enforcing the civil rights laws under which OCR has been granted jurisdiction to address and remedy discrimination. These enforcement efforts include complaint investigation and resolution, compliance reviews and technical assistance, as well…

This article reports a U.S. Supreme Court decision last week which supports the parents of a Massachusetts student who claimed that school officials failed to respond adequately to sexual harassment of their daughter--then in kindergarten--by a 3rd grade boy on her bus. The parents sued the district under both Title IX and Section 1983. In the…

This handbook contains summaries, discussions, and the texts of some of the major federal legislation that guarantees students protection from sex discrimination in the areas of education and employment. Explained first are the following employment laws: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1962; Executive Order 11246, as amended by Executive…

Regulations by HEW for implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, dealing with sex discrimination, are presented. Although women's athletic programs have received great attention, the statute and implementing regulations affect many phases of campus operations, including admissions, education programs, housing, financial…

School policy on teenage pregnancy must take into account a variety legal considerations. Up until recently, the favored way of dealing with pregnant pupils or pupils who are mothers was to exclude them from school. Several law cases involving instances of exclusion and segregation of pregnant pupils are cited. The 14th Amendment's guarantee of…

Several educational issues that are currently in the spotlight are discussed in this publication. They include: school desegregation, pregnant girls, teenage mothers, discipline, children with special needs, sex discrimination and Title IX, Title I -- Compensatory Education, privacy and the right to records, and racism and sexism in text…

Discusses five antidiscrimination federal statutes that significantly affect institutions of higher education. Intended as a basic introduction to legal issues in higher education and to serve as an impetus for further learning and discussion. Examines cases interpreting the statutes, as well as implications for student affairs practitioners.…

Intended as a handbook for school administrators and teachers and as a textbook for graduate and undergraduate level education courses, this book covers the current status of law affecting Indiana teachers as defined in statutes and interpreted by the courts. The first of nine chapters discusses the legal foundations of education in Indiana,…

The obligations of colleges and universities under existing laws prohibiting sex discrimination are discussed. Attention is directed to developments in the law relating to sex discrimination against employees and against students in colleges and universities, and practical and cost-efficient strategies for complying with the law. The pertinent…

This guidebook was written to provide information to high school students on Title IX, the Federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs. The booklet outlines student rights and responsibilities under the law and answers common questions regarding its provisions. Specific rights discussed include the student's rights in…