School Law

Catalog description

Candidates will examine the constitutional and statutory provisions and principles of representative governance that are the foundations of the American public school system. A comprehensive overview of the origin and legal status of the local school unit, legal responsibilities of adminis-trators, requirements of school boards, rights of students and teachers, evolution of legal provisions for school support; and the importance of diversity and equity in a democratic political system provides the basis for candidate discussion, analysis and application. Contemporary legal and ethical issues confronting education leaders and policymakers in a liber-al-democratic society are critically examined, as are the dynamics of policy development and advocacy under our democratic political system. Issues are examined for common legal pitfalls affecting all school per-sonnel contracts and labor relations.