Notes that increasing support for denominational education in Canada challenges educators to examine the issue before serious conflict reaches the courts. Notes that denominational education is affecting teachers' professionalism and human rights. Explains that because existing court judgments are contradictory, conflict resolution is better…

Using a specific case, this article reviews some common areas of contract and tort law applicable to principals and employment practices in public and private schools. The question/answer format treats contract validity, negligent misrepresentation, and constitutionality issues involved in a case based on unfulfilled hiring promises. Includes four…

Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act, providing for legal action to redress deprivation of constitutional rights by agencies of the state, has become a popular medium for remediation of alleged substantive and procedural wrongs by school officials. The success of Section 1983 actions against public schools has led to attempts to extend such…

It is important that teachers and administrators have at least a rudimentary knowledge and understanding of school law and how it affects their day-to-day classroom activities, since the courts have played an increasingly significant role in defining school policy. Decisions in school desegregation, prayer, public school financing, student rights,…

Except in matters of obvious race and/or sex discrimination, teachers in Catholic and other private schools have fewer Constitutional rights than public school teachers have. Contract law, rather than Constitutional law, governs most teacher employment situations in Catholic schools. An awareness of its implications, together with pastoral (moral…

The laws affecting education in the United States today can generally be classified according to four categories: (1) Constitutional law (both state and federal); (2) statutes and regulations; (3) common law principles; and (4) contract law. Students and teachers in private schools are not protected by federal Constitutional law because they are…

This bulletin addresses challenges facing school administrators and local and state officials in implementing the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The purpose of the ADA is stated, and dates that various provisions become effective are noted. The relationship of the ADA to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and to the Individuals…

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…