Scheduling off-campus extracurricular activities is not the issue, but how to get students there can present a problem. The transportation of students by staff in their private cars for extracurricular activities is common and occurs chiefly as a matter of convenience or cost saving. But it is not without risks. In general, the best solution for…

Rich with the histories of families and steeped in traditions, schools often embrace all that is good within a community. In fact, the school is often where families, students, and staff choose to memorialize the achievements, contributions, and sacrifices of those who learned or worked within the school's classrooms and corridors. A school's…

The use of corporal punishment may be as old as society itself. However, the development of compulsory attendance laws has raised questions about its legality. Under compulsory attendance laws and subject to exceptions for home schooling and nonpublic schools, parents must send their children to public schools or be subject to sanctions. Conflicts…

When school boards fail to provide the free appropriate public education (FAPE) guaranteed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities and their parents can be compensated in various ways. One of the more common remedies is to reimburse parents for tuition and other costs they may have incurred in…

Schools can engage in environmentally responsible practices. Source reduction is waste prevention. Setting up source reduction and recycling programs can be a positive learning experience for students, provide a valuable publicity tool, and secure the rewards of a supportive constituency. (MLF)

Although some media situations might spin out of control, school officials can make the difference between a positive or negative portrayal hitting the newsstands. Establishing an open-door policy, granting one-on-one interviews to trusted reporters, and allowing student input help foster good media relations. (MLH)

In "Cedar Rapids Community School District v. Garrett F." (1999), the U.S. Supreme Court decided that continuous nursing constitutes a "related service" under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The case involved a 16-year-old who has been paralyzed since early childhood. Cost per student could be $20,000 to…

Before selecting an architect, a school district should formulate clear expectations regarding the extent of the architect's services and responsibilities. One standard contract often proposed by architects is a document developed by the American Institute of Architects. Points out the shortcomings of this contract to a school district's interests…

E-mail has created friction between school districts' proprietary needs and employees' privacy rights. This article examines e-mail law (constitutional, statutory, and common) and issues (employer monitoring, discover problems, admissibility, and attorney-client privilege) and provides policy guidelines. The 1996 Communications Decency Act,…

As schools merge onto the information highway, districts must address their liability associated with Internet access. Schools need a practical policy supporting high access to global educational resources while limiting district liability. USENET provides easy access to controversial and pornographic materials. This article outlines federal…

To help educators understand their legal responsibilities when supervising students, this article reviews the elements of negligence (duty, breach, injury, and causation) an injured party must prove to hold an educator or school system legally accountable. The article also reviews basic defenses to negligence: immunity, comparative/contributory…

Risk transfer is the process of finding an entity to assume the burden of liability. Opportunities for risk transfer agreements for school districts include outside contractors, use of facilities, rental of buildings and equipment, and school trips. Figures show two sample hold-harmless agreements and basic types and levels of coverage. (MLF)

Administrators can prepare for crisis situations by conducting safety assessments at all schools and district facilities, involving community resources, updating district and school discipline and crisis-communication plans, establishing a crisis-intervention team, providing staff training, establishing "suspicious behavior" reporting procedures,…

In many states, the greatest threat to safe student transportation is elimination of the school transportation program. Using public transit buses, large vans, smaller vehicles, or specialized equipment can cause major-issue headaches. False issues include controversies over seat belts, bus design, and optional "bells and whistles." (10…

There has been little litigation since the Family Medical Leave Act's inception in 1993. This article highlights FMLA's scope of coverage, leave requirements, notice and verification, special rules for employees and local education agencies, employment and leave entitlements, and enforcement. Employers violating the FMLA may have to reinstate and…