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The School Law Institute

JULY 9-13, 2018

Topics

“The Institute managed in a mere five days to hit on all the hot button issues facing education and educators.”

-School Board member

“I feel empowered by the issues we discussed during the institute. These are issues that not only affect schools, but our personal lives as well.”

-M.A. Candidate, Early Childhood Special Education

“Excellent, relevant topics. Useful and interesting readings.”

-Higher Ed. Administrator

"I gained a comprehensive understanding of key topics in education law and policy. I am motivated and inspired to positively impact the field of education and the laws and policies that drive outcomes as a result of this rich experience.”

-Third Grade Teacher; Doctoral Candidate, Applied Behavior Analysis

“The School Law Institute provides incredibly practical information on a wide array of issues that every educator, lawyer, policymaker, parent…would benefit from knowing.”

-M. Ed. Candidate, Politics and Education

“Truly a greatest hits selection of law issues and potentially life/career changing for me.”

–Education advocate, 2012

“The School Law Institute not only provides an overview of current school law and issues, but does what few classes can- it teaches application of these laws, allowing the participants to truly grasp the importance and effects of what is being taught.”

-Teacher, Special Education

“Despite being a foreign student unfamiliar with American laws, the course provided me a framework for thinking about the relationship between the law and education, the rights of the school, teacher, and students. The skills I learned will certainly be applicable to my local context. Further, where laws, statues and regulations don’t exist, I am inspired to advocate for them. Specifically relevant were the topics of harassment and bullying, free speech, school authority, English language learners, and diversity.”

– Graduate student from Singapore 2012

“An excellent introduction to the legal issues that contextualize the private and public education systems we work in. A must for administrators.”

-Public School Teacher

“As a lawyer and prospective teacher, this course was invaluable. The topics are not only interesting, but essential to every teacher’s knowledge base.”

-Attorney

“Every issue we touched upon this week is an issue that we have dealt with over the last couple of years. I feel more confident in my knowledge of these topics now.”

-Teacher, Special Education

“The institute is a great introduction to national issues in education.”

-High School Teacher; M.A. Candidate, Leadership, Policy & Politics

“The institute provides a wonderful opportunity for professional development through access with current topics, law, and research.”

-Professor, Suffolk University

2018 Topics

School Safety Issues

The Schools’ Authority to Regulate and Punish On- and Off-Campus Student and Staff Misconduct
Student Searches and Drug Testing
Child Abuse Reporting and Prevention: The Schools' Responsibility
Tort Liability: The Schools’ Legal Responsibility for Injuries to Students and Staff
Internet, Social Media, and Cyberbullying

Equity Issues

Racial Equity and Public Schools Under Attack
Affirmative Action: The Permissible Use of Race, Ethnicity, and SES in Student Assignment and Admissions
Exploring the Effects of Racial Attitudes in K-12 Education: Implicit Bias and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
Bullying; Harassment based on Gender, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Race, Ethnicity, National Origin, and Religion
Critical Changes in Immigration Law, Policy, and Practice (The Rights of Immigrants, DACA, and Sanctuary Cities)
Law and Policy affecting immigrant students: language, education, and immigration enforcement
Fiscal Equity and the Right to an Adequate Education
Accelerating Achievement Using Heterogeneous Grouping; Student Detracking
Educational Accountability of Educators, Schools, Districts, and States

Charter Schools, Voucher Programs, and Other Forms of School Choice

Serving Individuals with Disabilities

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.): Legal, Policy, and Implementation Issues
Section 504 and ADA Title II

Standards and Accountability

Student Accountability: Testing for Student Tracking, Promotion, and Graduation
Educational Accountability of Educators, Schools, Districts, and States; ESSA

Free-Speech Issues, including the Internet and Cyberbullying

Student Free Speech
Teacher Free Speech
Internet, Social Media, and Cyberbullying

Educators and the Law

Improving Collaboration between Educators, Lawyers, Researchers, and Parents
Practicing Preventive Law
Using the Law to Advance Important Educational Priorities
Keeping Current on Legal Developments