In Goss v. Lopez the Supreme Court held that public school students are constitutionally entitled to some form of due process protection before being totally excluded from the educational process "for more than a trivial period." Implications for administrators and the decision-making process are discussed. For journal availability see…

In "Barrow" the 5th Circuit erected a very high burden of proof for school districts to show that policies requiring employees to live within the district are necessary to sustain public confidence in public schools. (Author/MLF)

Reviews the continuing legal and political battles against corporal punishment and discusses the legal future of corporal punishment in view of social and legislative changes since "Ingraham." (81 footnotes) (MLF)

The purpose of this paper is to explore the due-process rights of public employees. These particular rights are grounded in the constitutionally protected liberty interest in one's good name and reputation. Both employers and employees should be aware of what parameters case law provides with regard to the dimensions of this due-process right and…

In "New Jersey v. T.L.O." the U.S. Supreme Court held that the prohibitions of the Fourth Amendment regarding unreasonable searches and seizures apply to student searches and seizures conducted by public school officials. However, the Court said the legality of a search should depend upon "reasonableness, under the…

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…

Educators and the public are divided over the value of implementing school-uniform policies in the public schools. This digest examines arguments for and against school-uniform policies, identifies legal considerations, and offers guidelines for implementing policies on student dress. Most parents have responded favorably to uniform policies,…

The standards and commentary in this volume are part of a series designed to cover the juvenile justice system and its relationship to the rights and responsibilities of juveniles. This volume on public education is addressed to legislators, courts, lawyers, educators, parents, students, and the general public. The volume proposes standards…

Examines the general concept of judicial activism, then looks at three specific areas where charges of usurpation of policy-making power have been leveled at the courts: (1) racial desegregation; (2) due process for students; and (3) religion in public education. Concludes that judicial involvement in school policy occurs when explicit…

Focuses on judicial reception of schools' attempts to curb violence, particularly predatory violence and psychopathological violence. School responses have been to create violence-prevention policies based on punitive measures or punish offending behavior after it has occurred. Such reactions may result in finding that schools have abridged…

The Capital Area School Development Association, New York, sponsored a school law conference to fulfill a need in the region for school board members and administrators who desire to maintain and improve their knowledge in the area of school law. This document contains the text or outline of the following four presentations: (1) "Preserving…

The purpose of this paper is to examine, from a Constitutional perspective, the bases on which ability grouping and tracking might be challenged as barriers to equal educational opportunity. Findings from educational research on ability grouping, commentary from law review journals, and the texts of cases themselves are included as a part of the…

The Fourth Amendment protects an individual's justified expectations of privacy against unreasonable government intrusions; however, reasonable intrusions are allowed when legitimate governmental interests are served. This volume is intended to provide guidelines for school administrators on how to conduct searches and seizures in a manner…

This book examines the sizable body of school law that outlines legally defensible decisions. A substantial part of it contains edited, reported, and verbatim decisions. Historical perspective is provided, as well as specific case and statutory law. Chapter 1 discusses sources of law for educators, state school board policies, attorneys-general…

Public school educators are aware that courts, over the last several decades, have played a significant role in establishing educational policy. This text attempts to address important issues in school law with an emphasis on those having an impact at the school-building level. Chapter 1 offers an overview of the sources of law and the court…