Discusses an Alabama silent prayer law struck down by the Supreme Court. Also discusses two Iowa court cases, one involving prayer at graduation ceremonies, the other involving distribution of Bibles in state schools. (MD)

Reviews problems involved in disciplining disabled students with behavior problems as a result of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The case of "Honig V. Doe" has reached the Supreme Court but may be declared moot. Urges school administrators to warn parents of disabled students that the police will be called if students…

In "Lynch v. Donnelly" (the Pawtucket, Rhode Island, creche decision), the United States Supreme Court has signaled its willingness to give greater latitude to government involvement in religious activity. (TE)

Reviews the debate over Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and how the legal and policy issues arising from the disease affect the schools. Reviews recent court decisions emphasizing the need for schools to adopt written policy for dealing with AIDS. Includes discussion of two court cases relating to school administration. (MD)

Reviews recent court decisions on copyright law and videotaping, as well as payment of private school tuition in special education student placement challenges. (MD)

Reflects on 18 years' worth of school law columns. Many of the author's predictions have proved accurate, such as forecasts that legislation to assist handicapped students would produce an unprecedented flood of litigation; that minimum competency testing would stand the tests of time and the courts; and that school districts should avoid…

A recent state appellate court decision, "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania versus Cass," suggests that careless or misguided handling of drug searches (especially random drug-sniffing searches) will not hold up in court. Unless advance warnings are provided, administrators should conduct only narrowly focused searches that satisfy…

Public employee status in relation to office privacy has not been clarified by the recent Supreme Court decision in "O'Conner v. Ortega." The 1986 Handicapped Children's Protection Act's provision allowing courts to award attorney fees to parents who win cases on administrative rights is ambiguous. The implications for schools are…

Discusses three cases involving the dismissal of untenured school employees who, although not covered by extensive formal due process requirements, have sought reinstatement or damages on the basis of alleged violation of their constitutional rights. (MLF)

To avoid expensive and time-consuming negligence suits, schools everywhere should take thorough precautions against assaults on or near their premises; measures against unauthorized visitors are particulary important. School staff should register and monitor authorized visitors, and strangers in or near the school should be reported immediately.…

Senior class high jinks can be amusing until someone gets hurt and the school district is sued. That's what happened when three seniors concocted an explosive smoke bomb that unintentionally injured several girls holding a yearbook party nearby. Since the prank was considered a misdemeanor, the district was liable for $12,500 and suffered lots of…

A recent United States Supreme Court ruling requires that school staff with contagious diseases be treated like other handicapped employees who may be "otherwise qualified" to continue work under reasonable accommodation. Compulsory education laws are facing court challenges in several states, as parents seek more flexibility in…

A reinterpretation of student due process rights in a Mississippi court is reviewed. Public Law 94-142 is evaluated. A recent court decision found that if school systems allow nonhandicapped students to stay in school longer to complete graduation requirements they must also provide education for handicapped students through age 21. (MD)

Summarizes a variety of religious issues before United States courts, including two religion-in-the-schools cases in New Jersey and Georgia and two New York cases involving public assistance of private schools. Discusses a wrongful death lawsuit in Connecticut concerning a teenage suicide. (MLH)

Reviews recent court decision in which a principal censored articles from student newspaper because of possible invasion of privacy concerns. The lower courts held in favor of school, but the higher court (Eighth Circuit) reversed lower court's decision. School executives must chart narrow course between student lawsuit under First Amendment or…