As a supplement to the basic text, "Higher Education and the Law," this book briefly describes the American legal system for scholars, students, and administrators in the field of higher education who have had little or no legal training. The following topics are addressed: The United States Courts, the process of judicial review, reading and…

Six of the 22 Supreme Court decisions in the 1981-82 term concerning or affecting higher education are discussed. The cases concerned sex discrimination, tuition-free public schooling for undocumented children, residency status, dormitory drug search, student religious groups using school facilities, and the scope of Title IX. (MSE)

The recent Supreme Court refusal to hear a case appeal may prevent some church-related colleges from hiring only faculty sharing their beliefs. The earlier decision, involving hiring in a private elementary/secondary school, held that the institution was primarily secular, not religious by nature. (MSE)

Federal law provides for special educational services for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and for all children with disabilities. Questions arise regarding special educational services for parochial school children. A brief introduction to the two major federal programs for compensatory and special education is followed by an analysis of…

A majority of federal courts have dismissed lawsuits involving children injured at school and have held that the Constitution does not mandate that affirmative steps should be taken to protect a child. Deals with both the legal and practical issues involved with such a decision. Argues that public school officials have an affirmative…

When the Supreme Court decided that the Constitution requires public school principals to follow procedural due process in suspension and expulsion cases, the Justices recognized a link between procedural due process and the fairness of effective discipline. This report reviews the constitutional due process required when public school officials…

A review of 16 Federal Court of Appeals cases indicates the impact of the "Connick v. Myers" case on the nature of freedom of speech in public organizations. The case involved the firing of an assistant district attorney for circulating a job satisfaction survey after she was transferred to a less desirable section of the courts. Since…

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (the Act) provides for federal funding of special programs for educationally deprived children in both public and private schools. Respondents, parents of children attending nonpublic schools in Kansas City, Mo., brought this class action, alleging that petitioner state school officials…

Bakke's equal protection holding is analyzed and an assessment is offered of what the decisions mean for academic special admissions programs. Discussion focuses on how race may be used as a factor in admissions decisions consistently with the equal protection clause of the Federal Constitution. (Author/MSE)

The Supreme Court let stand a California court's ruling sharply limiting the right of administrators at public colleges to interfere with faculty members' curriculum decisions. The ruling came from a 1986 decision by the San Diego Community College District to bar the staging of a controversial play. (MSE)

Identifies and discusses recent decisions and upcoming cases of the Supreme Court that are likely to be of interest to teachers. Educational issues addressed include Internet access and censorship, affirmative action, sexual harassment, drug testing, and the separation of church and state. Includes a brief description Supreme Court duties. (MJP)

An overview of the constitutionality of various state public education finance systems is presented. Issues addressed include education as a fundamental right mandated by the education clause of state constitutions and the impact of the equal protection clause on the education clause. Criteria for successful challenges to state school finance…

This document includes a case summary and the Supreme Court Justices' opinions on Crawford vs Board of Education of the City of Los Angeles. The Crawford case concerned the constitutionality of Proposition 1, a State constitutional amendment ratified by California voters to stop mandatory pupil reassignment and busing within the Los Angeles…

Decisions made by federal and state courts during 1983 concerning the liability of schools, school districts, school boards, or school employees in tort cases are reported in this chapter. Torts are civil causes of action based on noncontractual legal responsibilities that individuals have to avoid harming or injuring another's person, property,…

Intended as a practical legal guide for Texas educators and lawyers, this book contains three major sections dealing with several chapters on various school law topics, each prepared by Texas attorneys. Section 1, "School Boards and Superintendents," includes chapters on school board members authority and relationship with staff, the…