This course provides a foundation of the legal underpinnings of the American education system and explores how legal decisions have had an effect on schools. Specific legal principles relating to church/state issues, tort liability, teacher responsibilities, student rights and administrative concerns such as contracts and collective bargaining are examined. Participants will analyze case studies to apply their understanding and create a compendium of the laws unique to the states in which they work.
By the completion of this course, you should be able to:
Note: The standards referenced above come from the 2015 Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL). The PSEL outline the “foundational principles of leadership to guide the practice of educational leaders so they can move the needle on student learning and achieve more equitable outcomes. They’re designed to ensure that educational leaders are ready to meet effectively the challenges and opportunities of the job today and in the future as education, schools and society continue to transform.” (National Policy Board for Educational Administration, 2015)
In addition to your coursework, be sure to review the PSEL Standards (provided in the left navigation panel in the course) as they will become increasingly important in your work.
Reference: National Policy Board for Educational Administration (2015). Professional Standards for Educational Leaders 2015. Reston, VA: Author.
Modules 2 through 7 have threaded discussions that feature 2 sample cases per module. You will be assigned to a small group in which you will take turns leading and facilitating the analysis. These cases allow you to practice analyzing case law in preparation for your exam case AND to prepare you as a school administrator to not just regurgitate legal tests or principles, but apply them. Please note how these threaded discussions DO NOT require you to conduct additional research beyond the textbook. The Rubric that is used for assessment is below. The goal is to have a substantive discussion with ongoing interaction among group members to the point of developing a coherent and effective case analysis.
Modules 2 through 7 include an exam case that you will analyze. To help with your analysis, discuss the case with your classmates in the Student Lounge (fondly known as “Starbucks” in this course). This student-led forum can be accessed under the course menu tab “Full Class Discussions.” You are encouraged to use this forum. Just like lawyers in a practice will debate a case among themselves, you can do the same. Before the module is over, you must submit your own analysis of the case for the Exam within the appropriate module. Remember that if you attach a file, the file must be in word or in rich text format.
There are school law areas in which states vary. Therefore, you will need to research your state and provide overviews as well as direct links to the body of law pertinent to your state, for instance, your state’s court system, child abuse and neglect law, bullying regulations, teacher termination law, and much more. You will find more detailed instructions about this assignment by clicking on the Compendium Notebook option within the course menu tab.
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignment | Maximum Points Possible | Total Points |
---|---|---|
6 Sets of Group Discussion - Sample Cases | 5 points each | 30 |
6 Exam Cases | 7.5 Points Each | 45 |
1 Compendium Notebook Project | 25 Points | 25 |
TOTAL POINTS | 100 |
Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
[Note: See additional time details for the sample case threaded discussions at end of chart] | |||
Dates/Time [EST] | Topic | Assignments | Due Date |
5/2 – 5/13 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 1 Legal Framework |
Intro Class Discussion and Activity (no grade) | Within 3 days – May 5 |
Read Chapter 1 | Within 4 days – May 6 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module submitted for initial review – May 13 | ||
5/14 – 5/27 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 2 Tort Liability |
Read Chapter 2 | Within 24 hours so you can begin to post in TD |
Sample Case TD | All postings end one week after module opens [see details below] – May 20 | ||
Exam Case | By end of module – May 27 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module, 2nd section done, but do not submit until last week. | ||
5/28 – 6/10 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 3 Church & State |
Read Chapter 3 | Within 24 hours so you can begin to post in TD |
Sample Case TD | All postings end one week after module opens [see details below] – June 3 | ||
Exam Case | By end of module – June 10 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module, 3rd section done but do not submit until last week. | ||
6/11 – 6/24 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 4 Classification |
Read Chapter 4 | Within 24 hours so you can begin to post in TD |
Sample Case TD | All postings end one week after module opens [see details below] – June 17 | ||
Exam Case | By end of module – June 24 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module, 4th section done but do not submit until last week. | ||
6/25 – 7/8 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 5 Exceptionalities |
Read Chapter 5 | Within 24 hours so you can begin to post in TD |
Sample Case TD | All postings end one week after module opens [see details below] – July 1 | ||
Exam Case | By end of module – July 8 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module, 5th section done but do not submit until last week. | ||
7/9 – 7/22 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 6 Students’ Rights |
Read Chapter 6 | Within 24 hours so you can begin to post in TD |
Sample Case TD | All postings end one week after module opens [see details below] – July 15 | ||
Exam Case | By end of module – July 22 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module, 6th section done but do not submit until last week. | ||
7/23 – 8/5 (11:59 p.m.) |
Module 7 Teachers’ Rights |
Read Chapter 7 | Within 24 hours so you can begin to post in TD |
Sample Case TD | All postings end one week after module opens [see details below] – July 29 | ||
Exam Case | By end of module – August 5 | ||
Compendium section | By end of module, 7th section done but do not submit until last week. | ||
8/6 – 8/19 (midnight) [Note: This class ends early to allow time to correct the Compendiums] |
Module 8 Employment Law |
Read Chapter 8 | Within 24 hours |
Reflection TD | Post initially by August 10; return to respond to others by August 12 | ||
Compendium | Complete 8th section and finalize—Submit by August 17 (midnight) | ||
Further deadlines concerning the Group Discussion Sample Cases:
Your instructor then will provide detailed feedback so you will be ready to work on the exam case that is due by the end of the current Module. |
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Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
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The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.