COURSE OBJECTIVE

EDA 755 is designed to provide educators with a working understanding of how the American legal system effect education in order to allow them the become more reflective decision-makers.  After reviewing the sources and types of law, this course examines selected key issues that educational leaders are likely to confront in the day to day operation of schools.

TEXT/REQUIRED READINGS

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION

EDA 755 addresses legal issues pertinent to teacher, administrator, and student legal rights and responsibilities in daily school happenings.  The legal process, structures of the law, legislation/ litigation, and practices to avoid legal infringements are addressed.  Primary emphasis is placed on activities at the building level.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Aware of the need to build learning communities through critical reflection, EDA 755 provides scholar practitioners with an introduction to how the American legal system impacts on the schools.  More specifically, after completing EDA 755, students should have the following competencies:

Knowledge

Demonstrate an understanding of the sources and types of legal authority; describe the parameters of the legal rights and responsibilities of teachers, administrators, students, and parents; evaluate the legal implications in school program policy planning, goal setting, and evaluation; demonstrate a global, non-discriminatory perspective in issues involving school law.

Skills

Locate and understand appropriate references in the literature and case law pertinent to the rights of all members of the school community; complete a review of one aspect of an aspect of the law that is of concern at the building level; and demonstrate competence in writing, library research, and framing case analyses.

Attitudes/ Values

Demonstrate, through class participation and written assignments, commitments both to fostering respect for the Constitutional rights of all members of the school community and to adhering to the responsibilities flowing from the Constitution; respect the dignity of all persons. 

CLASS REQUIREMENTS

WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

1. Position paper:  50% of the final grade.
   Please select a legal issue of your choice that impacts on the administration and daily operations of a school in Ohio (more specifically, think of your own school) and prepare a position paper.  That is, assume your principal or superintendent asks your advice over a pressing legal dilemma that requires you to supports or opposes a particular issues such as prayer in schools or the use of metal detectors.  In such a paper you will have to demonstrate a understanding of both sides of the issue before adopting your own position.
   
   Length:  5 to 7 pages (1250 to 1750 words) typed, double-spaced
   Please clear the topic with me in advance.
    

2. Policy Statement: 50% of the final grade.
   Educational practitioners regularly encounter new and unanticipated situations.  In light of the need to further hone your skills involving legal reasoning, identify the heart of the issue and through systematic inquiry into the nature of the problem offer well reasoned advice on an appropriate course of action.  As you develop your policy, you would be wise to consider the appropriate use of headings and subheadings.
   Please clear the topic with in advance.
   
   Suggested steps in preparing a policy:

   1. Identify an area in need of a (new) policy

   2. Gather needed materials (i.e., data)

   3. Study the issue

   4. Draft a policy; include subsections addressing different issues/topics

   5. Disseminate a draft copy

   6. Implement policy

   7. Enforce, evaluate, and revise policy

   Length: 3 to 4 pages (1200 to 1500 words) typed, double spaced (excluding references)

References should follow the APA Publication Manual.

GRADING POLICY 

Writing Assignments are assigned a letter grade and are  converted numerically as follows: 

A+ 98, A 93, A- 91, B+ 88, B 83, B- 81, C+ 78, C 73. No credit will be awarded for assignments that are  not completed.  Note that assignments may be subject to revision and resubmission. 

Final grades averaging 90 and above will receive an A; grades between 89 and 80 will receive a B; grades between 79 and 70 will receive a C; grades between 69 and 60 will receive a D; grades below 60 will receive an F. 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to attend all classes.  Students who have more than three unexcused absences run the risk of having their grade reduced by one grade.  Please try to notify me if you know in advance that you will be missing a class.

CLASS PARTICIPATION

Class participation is not a formal part of your grade, but is greatly encouraged.  It is to your benefit to participate as students who contribute significantly to class discussions will, if necessary, be given the benefit of the doubt to the next higher grade at the end of the semester.  Non‑participation will not hurt your grade, but taking part can help your grade and will help to make the class a more meaningful learning experience.

OFFICE HOURS

My office is located in 114 Chaminade Hall.  If you are on campus, please feel free to stop by at any time that you are on campus, no appointment is necessary.  If it is inconvenient for you to “drop in,” please let me know and we can schedule an appointment at a mutually convenient time.  You can reach me in my office at (937) 229-3722.  You can also reach me by e-mail at: russo@keiko.udayton.edu My home number is (937) 299-6545

As we are off campus, I will try to be here at least 30 minutes prior to the start of class, or earlier by appointment, to discuss any concerns that you might have.

EDA 755
Course Outline / Schedule

LEGEND: BHSS refers to Chapters/ sections in Buchter, Hastings. Sheeran, & Stype

The World Wide Web or the Internet is now considered by many as the place to do serious research as it connects one to a variety of sources including multi-media.  The intent of this listing is to offer the school law student an opportunity to begin exploring and finding sites that will assist in learning and understanding the law.

University of Dayton
Department of Educational Leadership
Dayton, Ohio 45469-0534
Last Updated: Thursday, 15 July 2004 - RDS