This article documents results of a survey of 73 school social workers regarding their record-keeping practices. These social workers indicated that time pressures are a major challenge to documentation; they struggle to know what to include, and they worry about privacy. More than half fail to consistently include assessment information, progress…

Governing public schools is one of the most important responsibilities a citizen can undertake. School board members work on behalf of all the families in their community, with fellow board members and with other community partners, to ensure that each student has equal and ample opportunities to reach his or her greatest potential. This guide…

This guide is intended to give individual school board directors an introduction to some of the legal issues they may encounter in their board service. This material is not intended to answer every question, even in the subject matter areas they cover. This guide is merely intended to alert directors to the legal issues that they will encounter…

This study provides an historical analysis of the Chicago Public School Desegregation Consent Decree, while illustrating its relationship with the "Brown v. Board" of 1954. It provides an analysis of the mission and objectives of all three versions of the Consent Decree which include: The Original Consent Decree 1980, The Modified…

The Internet is a valuable educational tool being utilized in many classrooms today. However, Internet and computer policies restrict and limit how the Internet and computer can be used in a school. An Internet and computer policy typically limits students to use the Internet and computer for educational purposes. If a student violates this policy…

Recent developments in school law by a foremost school law authority. (LR)

Briefly discusses proposed changes in the copyright laws as they apply to educators. Includes an explanation of the "fair use" doctrine and gives examples of common copyright violations by educators. (JG)

Guidelines to help school superintendents identify and benefit from sound legal advice. (Author/MLF)

Discusses judicial review, by central government courts, of the action of local education authorities under government laws pertaining to elementary and secondary education in England and Wales. Observations about comparable experience in the United States are included. (MLF)

As a product of judicial rulings on the legality of acts of educational authorities and on the constitutionality of educational legislation, the common law authoritatively constrains the actions of school officials. Courts have recently delineated general boundaries in two important areas of school law: (1) Tort liability of school districts, and…

School administrators and legal experts discuss why school board decisions are increasingly vulnerable to judicial, legislative, and public review. Steps are outlined to avoid legal hassles. (Author/MLF)

Volunteer involvement in North Carolina public schools is steadily increasing, yet few local school boards have official policies governing the use of volunteers in their schools. An official volunteer policy reduces the risk of injury to participants in school volunteer programs, reduces a school board's liability exposure, and reduces…

Three legal examples illustrate five areas of school attendance policy that should be carefully examined for imprecise or incorrect wording that could cause costly legal challenges. (MLF)