Overall, there has been limited guidance from the federal government on how K-12 schools should implement their policies and practices to comply with Title IX and special education law. The lack of clear directives leaves K-12 schools with the task of identifying policies and processes that are the best practices in navigating the rights afforded…

In this article, I detail how I revised a social foundations of education course to center major Supreme Court cases relating to K-12 public schools. Scholars in social foundations of education have articulated a vision for the field that fosters and promotes democracy and democratic dispositions. Focusing on the Supreme Court in a social…

Under Federal law, State and local educational agencies (hereinafter "districts") are required to provide all children with equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary level. Thie Dear Colleague letter was written to remind school districts of the Federal obligation to provide equal educational opportunities to all…

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a broadly worded statement that addresses discrimination in schools and other settings. Enacted at about the same time as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 has been used sparingly in elementary and secondary schools. Section 504 presents an opportunity to redress…

Summarizes outcome of appeals to federal circuit courts of appeal and to the U.S. Supreme Court by losing parties. With few exceptions, appeals result in no significant changes in holdings. (Contains 27 references.) (PKP)

The Yearbook of Education Law contains analyses of the previous year's federal and state court decisions that affect private and public elementary and secondary schools and higher education. The Yearbook provides summaries and analyses of relevant state appellate and federal trial and appellate court cases. Contents include: (1) Employees; (2)…

Reviews the Supreme Court's decision in "Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education" affirming court-ordered desegregation to remedy government-sanctioned desegregation. Discusses decision by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals that ended federal court supervision of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District's efforts to achieve…

Jesse Vail sued an Illinois board of education in federal court over a contract dispute. The court awarded Vail damages, the decision was upheld on appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court will be reviewing the decision in 1984. (MD)

Analyzes California case ("Newdow v. U.S. Congress") involving Constit utional challenge to the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance wherein the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that the phrase violated the Establishment Clause requiring state-church separation. (Contains 11 references.) (PKP)

Title IX provides no private right of court action. (Author/IRT)

The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) has stated that school districts must continue to provide services to disabled students after expulsion even when behavior is not related to the child's disability. The OSERS opinion cites no legislative or judicial authority and directly contradicts…

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act purports to overrule the Supreme Court's decision in "Employment Division v. Smith." Discusses "Smith" and its rejection of the strict scrutiny test in challenges to facially neutral government actions that burden the exercise of religion. Analyzes the possible general effects of the act…

Courts in the Ninth Circuit are required to apply a four-factor balancing test when reviewing school districts' least restrictive environment (LRE) placement decisions for children with a disability. Discusses the Ninth Circuit's new LRE test, LRE tests previously announced in other circuits, and the fact that the Supreme Court has not addressed…

Unitary status in school desegregation occurs when the federal district court dissolves all injunctions and releases the school district from further court supervision. Reviews several lower court decisions of the late l980s and the recent Supreme Court's decisions in "Dowell" and "Pitts." (MLF)

Reviews the Supreme Court decisions on issues of interest to school districts. Also analyzes cases relevant to public schools that the Court declined to review. Summarizes a number of cases that the Court will hear in its term beginning October 1993 and that may have a major impact on school districts. An appendix lists the cases cited. (MLF)