COURSE SYLLABUS
Department of Educational Leadership
Florida Atlantic University

Course Number & Title: EDA 7235 Seminar in School Law

Catalog Description:
3 semester hours. A seminar exploring, through the problem method, various legal aspects related to the administration and organization American education. Individuals will study and research selected topics in depth.

Required Texts:

Professor will select the text for this course from the Recommended Text list below. Please see the University Book Store for your professor's choice(s).

Recommended Texts:

Morris, A. A. (1996). The Constitution and American Public Education. Carolina Academic Press.

Audio/Visual Technology:

            Power Point presentations

            World Wide Web research

Guidelines Used In Developing Course Objectives:

            National Council Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

            Florida Educational Leadership Examination (FELE)

            Florida Principal Competencies (FPC)

            Interstate Leader Licensure Consortium Standards (ISLLC)

Course Objectives:

The student will be able to:

1.         Understand the basic principles and practices of legal research. (NCATE 12.1, 12.2, 12.3; FPC 5, 6)

2.         Know how to retrieve court cases and other legal resources from the internet. (NCATE 2.0, 2.4, 9.1, 9.2; FELE Technology A, B, C, E, F)

3.         Understand how the Supreme Court has effectively modified the Constitution in:

a.         Student rights (NCATE 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5, FPC 6; FELE School Law A, B, C, D)

b.         Teachers’ rights as citizens (NCATE 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5; FPC 6; FELE School Law A, B, C, D)

4.         Gain an in-depth understanding of the issues surrounding the church-state dichotomy. (NCATE 11.1, 11.2, 11.4, 11.5; FELE School Law A, B, C, D)

5.         Know the roles of teachers as public employees and as citizens. (NCATE 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4, 11.5; FPC 6,7; FELE School Law A, B, C, D)

6.         Be able to discuss intelligently and from a legal basis, some of the more current legal/political/social issues facing school leaders. (NCATE 1.3, 1.5, 1.6; FPC 18, FELE Communications A,C,D, E, G)

Content Outline:

            Units               Topics

            1                      The church/state dichotomy

            2 - 3                 Student freedom of expression

            4 - 5                 Religious influences in the schools

            6 - 7                 Student rights of freedom of intrusion

            8 - 9                 Student discipline issues

            10                    Teachers rights as citizens

            11                    Teachers rights to freedom of expression

            12                    Special education topics

            13                    Sexual harassment

            14                    Affirmative action

            15                    Selected individual topics

Course Requirements:

1.         Pass weekly quizzes

2.         Submit weekly case briefs

3.         Review appropriate web sites.

4.         Write and deliver position papers

Grading/Evaluation Criteria:

This course will follow FAU’s grading policy.

A                     =4.0                 C         = 2.00

A-                    =3.67               C-        =1.67

B+                   =3.33               D+       =1.33

B                      =3.0                 D         =1.00

B-                    =2.67               D-        =0.67

C+                   =2.33               F          =0

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance is expected. Attendance includes active involvement in all class sessions, class discussions, and class activities as well as professional conduct in class. Excused absences are allowed for (1) a personal or family medical emergency and (2) a bona fide religious holiday.

Bibliography:

Alexander, K., & Alexander M. D. (1998). American public school law (4th ed.). St. Paul, MN. West Publishing Company.

Cambron-MCCabe, N., & McCarthy, M. (1998). Public school law for teachers and students (5th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.

Reutter, E. (1985). The law of public education. Mineola, NY: Foundation Press.

Valente, W. (1987). Law in the schools. Columbus, OH: Merrill

Websites: Findlaw, Lexus-Nexus