The peer review system for evaluating schools (the "Toledo Plan") is gaining favor among teachers in other school systems. Schools are generally reluctant to dismiss incompetent teachers because of documentation complexities, but incompetent teachers should nevertheless be weeded out. (TE)

From year to year the types of disputes that courts are asked to settle regarding teachers and other school employees vary considerably. This variation may result in part from previous litigation that was directly related to teachers and presumably settled specific issues regarding them, has modified the apparent urgency of such litigation, or has…

School board members from 50 states have in common the United States Constitution and the legal principles announced by the federal courts in response to that Constitution. New board members are usually concerned with the rights of teachers, parents, and students. Starting with student rights, student conduct that involves freedom of expression…

This guide is intended to acquaint administrators and teachers with legal requirements for staff evaluation and recent changes in Oklahoma teacher dismissal law. A State Board of Education policy statement and a glossary of legal terms follow the statutory description and explication of the intent of Senate Bill No. 249 and Senate Bill No. 308.…

During 1973, the broad issues characterizing the majority of court decisions concerning school employees were the constitutional and statutory rights of teachers and the relationship between these rights and the authority of the employer to act. Due process, both procedural and substantive, continues to receive extensive court consideration along…

This book is designed to promote legal literacy for public school teachers. It examines a wide range of constitutional, statutory, and case law that directly affects their work. Its purpose is to provide teachers with the knowledge necessary to comply with the law, assert their rights, and bring violations to the attention of administrators and…

Decisions made by federal and state courts during 1983 concerning the employment, dismissal, and tenuring of the employees of public agencies--in particular, public schools--are reported in this chapter. The chapter first addresses discrimination in employment based on race, sex, age, or physical limitations and notes that the shifting burden of…

This chapter analyzes more than 200 cases reported in 1986 involving public-sector employees in elementary and secondary education. Also included, where appropriate, are relevant 1986 Supreme Court cases from outside the field of education, as well as leading cases from prior years. Legal issues covered by the review include the following: (1)…

Sixth in a series providing a scope treatment of case law on a wide range of public school issues, this monograph reviews selected federal and state decisions handed down between June 30, 1982 and June 30, 1983. School board issues covered include at-large election, open meeting laws, and authority to close schools, reduce slaries, interpret…