Marilyn Gardner, Lawyer in Milton, Massachusettes, presents on reflective assignments and questions for law school students.

1. Collaborate Session 2
Welcome
EDD 8434
Advanced School
Law

2. EDD 8434
Advanced School Law
Agenda
▪ Microphone Check
▪ Next Collaborate Session (Monday, July 7th)
▪ Course/Assignment Comments To Date
▪ Major Future Assignments and Projects
▪ Supervisor Interview (Week 8-9)
▪ Common Core (Week 10)
▪ Final Project (PowerPoint Presentation) (Week 11-12) Topic Due July 1st
▪ Final Examination (Week 13-14)
• Reflection Questions:
• To date, what has been the most “interesting/surprising” legal fact/case/issue to which
you have been introduced this semester?
• Describe a due process and student safety issue of which you are familiar in your (or
another) school/district. How was it resolved?
• Describe a student rights and restrictions issue of which you are familiar in your (or
another) school/district. How was it resolved?

3. Assignment Score Ranges
Assignment 1 (5 points):
2.5 – 5 (0)
Assignment 2 (5 points):
3.5 – 5 (1)
Assignment 3 (5 points):
0 – 5 (3)

4. Grades (5 point scale)
• 5.0 100%
• 4.9 98%
• 4.8 96%
• 4.7 94%
• 4.6 92%
• 4.5 90%
• 4.4 88%
• 4.3 86%
• 4.2 84%
• 4.1 82%
• 4.0 80%
• 3.9 78%
• 3.8 76%
• 3.7 74%
• 3.6 72%
• 3.5 70%

5. Assignments & Grades
• 1. Fundamental Legal Terms 5
• 2. Impact of Religion 5
• 3. Brief 5 Cases 5
• 4. Due Process & Safe Schools 5
• 5. Principles of Special Ed 10
• 6. Current Legal Perspectives 5
• 7. 504 & ADA 5

6. Assignments & Grades, cont.
• 9. Supervisor Interview 5
• 11. Common Core 5
• 13. Presentation Project 20
• 14. Final Exam 25
• 15. Collaborate Sessions 5
100

7. General Course Comments
➢ Outstanding Class
➢ Settling in with course format and
expectations (usually 5-6 weeks/not this
class, much faster)
➢ Reading the Syllabus Carefully
➢ Covers/Reference Pages Every
Assignment(APA)
➢ Essex is just an initial resource/you must
research beyond Essex

8. General Assignment Comments
➢ Formatting (reduce grade
if poorly formatted/ single
spaced/questions bolded
and answer below/similar
font and size, etc.)
➢ Proofreading (Not only
Spell and Grammar
Check) will dramatically
reduce grade (or not
accept) if not proofread
for grammar/punctuation.

9. Assignment Comments
What are the “A” students doing right?”
➢ Citing cases to support arguments.
➢ Using more than Essex as Source – ensures
correct, complete, and accurate responses
➢ “Circling Back Around” to delineate why their
Cases/Acts/Statutes prove the argument.
➢ Don’t just “state” the law/what does it have to do
with your question! “More is better.”
➢ Use (and cite) the Assignment Resources (found
under each Assignment week on BlackBoard)

10. What are the “A” students doing right?”
➢ Don’t explain cases/hit and
run/what was the ruling and
why it supports your decision.
➢ Make a decision and argue it
with cases, statutes, and the
law.
➢ Read the syllabus and follow
the instructions (if it says use
other sources or 3 pages, etc., it
means it)

11. Suggestions to Date
➢ Please Read My Comments: Every assignment
has them.
➢ Check Course Emails
➢ Never (ever) use Wikipedia, about.com, info.com,
etc.
➢ Use Class Study Guides and PowerPoints
➢ Will start taking off for non-APA Reference
Page
➢ Will start taking off (more) for not proofreading
➢ If you are unsure or confused contact me!

12. Assignment #1 Comments
Outline Chapter #1
• Summary not outline
• Outline was bullets (no
organization or headings)
• Did not use five topic
headings from syllabus,
made own topic headings
• No Reference page or not
APA
• Too brief did not cover the
significant points
• Did not proofread

13. Assignment # 2 Comments
Impact of Religion on Schooling
• Only 1 or two sentences
(required three)
• Did not answer the
questions correctly
• No Reference Page or not
APA
• Did not respond to every
question
• Did not proofread

14. Assignment #3 Comments
Brief 5 Cases
• Vote Section: none, too
brief or did not make
sense
• Legal Basis at Issue
Section: too brief/did not
include all of the issues
• Legal Basis for Decision
Section: too brief
• References not APA

15. Assignment # 4 Comments
Due Process
• Answers/Opinions not backed by case law or
statutes!
• Did not reference the rule of law/freedom that is
being violated.
• Not detailed when describing what actions school
officials should take.
• Poor Formatting/Presentation (not doctoral level)
• Too few pertinent sources/references

16. Additional General Suggestions
▪ Adapt an Assignment to
adequately respond (i.e.,
International Students, No
School Policy on ADA,
Zero Tolerance, etc.)
▪ Your review of the
literature and references
must be scholarly,
reflecting doctoral-level
expertise.

17. Week #5: Principles of Special Education
Law
Part I: Respond to questions from one of
three Case Studies (approximately 2 pages).
Use Essex but cite at least two other
authoritative sources.
Part II: Respond to 20 questions with
minimum of two sentences per question.

18. First Half of Semester
❑ Expose wide variety of experiences with
laws schooling.
❑ Create a legal “mind set”.
❑ Develop a way of thinking about legal
issues.
❑ Demonstrate and apply what you have
learned.
❑ Use the briefing skills you have developed.

19. Advanced School Law
Questions

20. Future Assignments
Legal Clips (Week 6)
Summaries of 504 and ADA
(Week 7)
Supervisor Interview (Week
8-9)
Common Core (Week 10)
Presentation Project (Week
11-12)
Final Exam (Week 13-14)

21. Legal Clips
(week 6)
• Subscribe to Legal Clips (National School Board Association)
• Review Legal Clips on a weekly basis from Weeks 2-6.
• Identify one school law story (5 total) from each of Weeks
2-6.
• Provide overview of case:
❑ Title of Legal Clip (with citation)
❑ Date and Time (if applicable) of Legal Clip
❑ Category Filed
❑ Abstract
❑ Facts/Issues
❑ Ruling/Rationale
❑ Editors Note (if applicable)

22. Section 504 and American Disabilities Act (ADA)
(Week 7)
• Most Week 7 assignments approximately 6-7 pages
• Minimum of three reliable sources
• Minimum of two sentences
• No Section 504 School Board Policy? (Case Study
Teammate or Google)
• Never just a “Yes or No” answer!
• Examples: Does your district have a school board policy
on Section 504 in its policy manual?
State name of the Policy!

23. Section 504 and American Disabilities Act (ADA)
(Week 7)
• Does it include:
Notice
Yes, PS 114 8/05 IV Parental Notification states that
the school ……is required to notify ….. It does not require
written notification but ….
Definition of Key Terms
Yes, all key terms are defined. These key terms include;
disabled person, physical or mental impairment, ……….
Discrimination Prohibited
Yes, this is stated in the Purpose section of the code……..

24. Advanced School Law
Questions

25. Supervisor Interview
Week 8-9
1. Make an
appointment
2. Submit your list of
questions
3. Interview
Supervisor
4. Follow Format and
Respond to
Questions

26. Supervisor Interview
(Week 8-9)
➢ Make an appointment
➢ Submit list of 20 interview questions (15 from syllabus
and 5 of your own- not yes or no-)
➢ Interview (in person) Supervisor
➢ Prepare written record using rubric in Section IX of
syllabus
➢ Paper format outlined in syllabus
➢ Re-frame/modify question(s) if central office or different
name (i.e., School Advisory Committee, etc.?)
➢ Frank, forthright, fair, and full responses to the questions.
➢ Finally, three questions in syllabus regarding your
impression of the interview.********

27. Supervisor Interview
(Week 8-9)
Follow format (read syllabus).
➢ Title Page
➢ Description of School (provides insight to answers)
➢ 20 Questions outlined on one page
➢ Typed questions (bold and numbered) and responses
underneath (can add your own commentary after a
question)
➢ Section 5: Your comments on your interviewee’s
responses to Questions 9-15
➢ Section 6: Impressions of interview questions

28. Common Core State Standards (CCSS)
(Week 10)
• Respond to six
questions regarding
Common Core State
Standards
• How will the CCSS
impact NCLB and
state standards?

29. Advanced School Law
Questions

30. Presentation Project (PowerPoint)
Week 11-12
• Select topic interesting
to you, or
• Explain a law or law
to school/district.
• Get prior approval by
July 1st.
• Develop PowerPoint
Presentation
• Use visuals

31. Final Project
(PowerPoint Presentation)
➢ 25-50 slides
➢ 10 specific bibliographic sources
➢ Visual presentation using pictures,
graphics, and cartoons on legal topic.

32. Final Exam
(Week 14)
➢ Identification Questions
➢ Short Essays and Case Scenarios Minimum 200 words
➢ Please follow directions explicitly
➢ May use text, other books, and Internet.
➢ Use sources other than Essex/Cite Sources
➢ Cannot work together
➢ Defend your answers/opinions with the law and write
complete sentences!
➢ Proofread!
➢ Will be in mailbox a few weeks before.

33. Advanced School Law
Questions?

34. Reflection Question
To date, what is the most surprising or
interesting legal
fact/information/concept you learned?

35. Reflection Question
Describe a due process and student
safety issue of which you are familiar
in your (or another) school/district.
How was it resolved?

36. Reflection Question
Describe a student rights and restrictions
issue of which you are familiar in your
(or another) school/district. How was it
resolved?

37. Advanced School Law
Questions
and
Final Thoughts

38. EDD 8434
Advanced School Law
Thank You!
Questions, Comments, or Concerns?
(Cell) 617-291-2822

39. Presentation References &
Resources
Nathan L. Essex, School
Law and the Public
Schools: A Practical
Guide for Educational
Leaders (5TH
ed.)