Teachers continue to be underinformed about legal issues affecting schools. Litigation and case law since 1998 suggest that principals should provide teachers with additional training in the areas of school violence, school prayer, sexual harassment, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, data privacy, and student suicide. (MLH)

School administrators are challenged to maintain the delicate balance between protecting individuals' rights and ensuring the general welfare by maintaining a safe, secure learning environment. Legal principles and precedents governing restrictions on student appearance, privacy and procedural rights, harassment and hate crimes, and suicide are…