In DesRoches v Caprio, federal district court ruled in favor of Jim DesRoches who had decided not to consent to a search of his backpack for a pair of allegedly stolen sneakers. Judge Robert G. Doumar decided the need to find the stolen sneakers did not outweigh the students' privacy interest and offered guidelines about school searches for stolen…

The central theme of this discussion deals with the legal aspect and increasing prominence of due process of law as it relates to the rights of students in public schools. (Author)

An examination of the major Supreme Court cases affecting schools from 1970 through the recent 1981 term shows how the Court since 1969 has moved to a more conservative interpretation and application of due process to the public schools. Most of the cases concern either student discipline or teacher termination. (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)

Discusses the application of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as a legal theory available to an employee of a public school system who faces isolation, transfer, suspension, or termination because of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Addresses AIDS in the workplace and the law. (MLF)

Presents a comparative examination of state statutory codes related to public educator termination, and an analysis of recent court cases involving hearing officers in public education termination actions. (68 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…

The 1985 United States Supreme Court decision in "Loudermill" established that public school employers may not dismiss employees who possess property rights in continued employment without due process of law. Examines the Supreme Court's decision, canvasses lower court decisions rendered since "Loudermill," and reviews the…

This paper offers administrators, teachers, and school boards an introduction to legal issues surrounding teacher dismissal and school desegregation and summarizes a study of all teacher dismissal cases heard from 1970 through 1981 in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Most of the report is devoted to an overview of the historical development 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…

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…

An analysis of court litigation in issues of school law is equally divided between decisions affecting school districts and those affecting postsecondary institutions. School-district litigation is arranged under the following categories: student rights and responsibilities, special education, employee rights and responsibilities, religion,…

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 is limited to a study of the education opinions of the Supreme Court during the time that Warren Earl Burger served as Chief Justice. Over 100 opinions having direct bearing on education were issued during the Burger years, a total greater than in the entire Court's history. The first chapter presents the history of the establishment of…

This first chapter of "The Yearbook of School Law, 1986" summarizes and analyzes over 250 state and federal court decisions handed down in 1985 affecting the legal rights of employees of public schools and state education agencies. Among the topics examined are discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, age, and handicap;…