This pamphlet considers students' right to privacy and the application of this right to the confidentiality of information disclosed to administrators and counselors. Privacy is also considered in regard to special problems associated with counseling students about drugs, contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion, and possible threat…

Since the 1960s, crime and violence have been increasing in schools. This document focuses on crime involving physical harm or the threat of physical harm to a student or staff member on school grounds or at school events. Chapter 1 reviews past trends in school violence, describes the current extent of the problem, and explores some of its…

The ordinary conduct of school business is accompanied today by risks that were rare or unknown a few decades ago. School administrators are continually being challenged to develop new strategies to safeguard their districts' assets. Risk management is a coordinated effort to protect an organization's assets, both human and financial, from all…

One reason all 50 states have passed laws requiring school personnel to report suspected child abuse is that the school may be the primary setting in which children interact on a regular basis with nonfamily members. Because teachers interact with children on a daily basis, they are particularly well positioned to spot unusual behaviors in…

This review analyzes case law in the area of student press and distribution and offers some guidelines for developing and implementing school policy and rules. Litigation is reviewed in order to clarify students' rights, limitations on administrative authority in matters of censorship and prior restraint, and actions in connection with writing and…

Included in this report is the complete text of the Cabinet Council on Human Resources (CCHR) memorandum entitled "Disorder in Our Public Schools," also known as the Bauer Report. The memorandum argues that the quality of public education in the United States is threatened by pervasive disorder in the schools. It also claims that school…

A conference on new perspectives in school administration was held for elementary school principals in the summer of 1975 by the Confederation of Oregon School Administrators. This paper summarizes material presented in five topic areas by eight speakers. Steve Goldschmidt's talk on school law touched on the administrator's and the school's…

Girls are only one of several groups that governments in Australia, as in other parts of the world, have recognized as suffering educational disadvantage. The problems of other groups are clear-cut and appropriate action plainly indicated. But in the case of girls, the causes are far more complex, entrenched in society, and education systems have…

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are provided for under three federal statutes: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. State education agencies have ultimate responsibility for providing a free…

Defamation is a common-law claim for liability that encompasses "libel," which is the written form, and "slander," which is the oral form. School principals can be plaintiffs or defendants in defamation suits. Relevant case law provides illustrations of the various elements of defamation for both roles of the principal. Court…

Improving communications between administration and staff members is an urgent, ongoing need. Schools should adopt a communications philosophy in conjunction with continuing communication effectiveness. These evaluations must have clear and understandable objectives, mainly to pinpoint communication strengths and weaknesses. All essential…

Fulfilling the role of the community college president requires that a balance be maintained between internal constituents (e.g., students, faculty, administrators, and support staff) and external constituents (e.g., politicians, members of coordinating agencies, business leaders, trustees, alumni, and special interest groups). When the president…

Administrators need to know what control they have over student-produced publications. The first step administrators should take is to be well versed in the First Amendment and in court rulings involving the scope of student rights and school authority in regard to the student press. Step two is to make rules within the law. In general, school…

In the last few years a variety of questions have arisen in the school context concerning the legal rights of persons seeking to record conversations. Guidance concerning the law governing these situations is based on the following conclusions: (1) neither the common law nor any federal law generally prohibits the tape recording of conversations…

This newsletter defines common law negligence, discusses recent trends in common law negligence, cites litigation, and establishes guidelines to assist school administrators in the avoidance of such tort action. The success or failure of a negligence suit most commonly turns on one of three factors: duty, breach of that duty, and proximate cause…