Marilyn Gardner taught advanced school law for many years, focusing on court decisions that impact governance, operations, curriculum, instruction, and personnel in schools. She stresses that failure to comply with school law can have serious legal and financial consequences. The Pearson Educational Leadership Series textbooks cover major areas of school litigation and promote understanding of legal principles guiding K-12 schools. They empower administrators, teachers, and staff with knowledge of topics like student rights, discipline, disabilities, liability, discrimination, instruction, and attendance.

1. MarilynGardner,Lawyer,spentyearsteachingAdvancedSchool
Law at the Doctoral Level.Herfocuswas court decisionsatall levelsof
governmentwhichhave hadanimpacton the governance of schools
and whatschool personnel candointerms of the operationof schools,
curriculum, instruction,assessmentandschool personnel,and
treatmentof candidates. Marilynwouldalwaysstressthatfailure to
complywithschool law can have far reachingandcostlyimplications.
The K-12 School Law Series curriculumfocusesonthe Pearson
Educational LeadershipSeriesbooks whichfocusonthe majorareasof
school litigation andpromotesanunderstandingof the principlesof law
that guide the governance andoperationsof schoolswhileequipping
school authoritieswithappropriate knowledge,skillsanddisposition to
fulfilltheirobligationstoschool-agedyoungsters.
In herresearch,she identifiedfourPearson EducationalLeadershipSeries books
(https://www.amazon.com/School-Law-Public-Schools-Educational/dp/0137072759) that are valuable
resourcesonthese topics. Theycovermanyfacetsof K-12 School Law and are importantresourcesto
empowerschool administratorsandstaff. Theyare:
 Law and Ethicsin Educational leadership,DavidStaderISBN:978-0-13-268587-0
 School Law and the PublicSchools,NathanEssex,ISBN:978-0-13-707275-0
 A Teacher’sPocketGuide toSchool Law,NathanEssex,ISBN:978-0-13-335191-0
 School Law: CasesandConcepts,Michael W. LaMorte,ISBN:978-0-13-707247-7
Pearson’sresources (https://www.pearson.com/us/sign-in.html) focusonthe majorareasof
school-relatedlitigationandthe implicationsof courtrulingsforschool leaders,teachersaswell asthe
relatedchangesinpolicyaffectingthe school environment. School staffwillbe empoweredto deal in
legallydefensible wayswithschool- andcommunity-basedsituations andremaincurrentwithschool
relatedlawandpolicy.
Topics: Anoverviewof the legal topicsinthe PearsonEducational LeadershipSeries
(https://www.amazon.com/School-Law-Public-Schools-Educational/dp/0137072759) textbooks for
administrators,teachers,andstaff isbelow.Theycanbe usedas a professional developmentresource,in-
service training,and“justintime”knowledge.Examplesof topicsinclude
(https://www.pearson.com/us/sign-in.htm):
A. STUDENT PRIVACYAND FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS
1. Freedomof Expression
2. ProtestsandDemonstrations
3. School-SponsoredNewspapers/Non-school-SponsoredNewspapers
4. Censorship
5. Dressand Appearance (HealthandSafetyIssues,Controversial Slogans)
Mission
Empower school administrators
and staff to deal with multi-
faceted student, parent/guardian
and school situations in legally
defensible ways. Provide and
equip school staff 24/7 with the
knowledge, skills, anddisposition
to fulfill their obligations by
promoting understanding of the
principles of law that guide the
governance and operations of
schools.

2. 6. “No Pass,NoPlay”Rule
7. Cell Phones andPagers
B. STUDENT SEARCH
1. Searchand Seizure andReasonable Suspicion
2. Searchand Seizure (StudentDesks,StudentLockers,BookBags, Automobiles)
3. Intrusive Searches
4. StripSearches
5. Involvementof LawEnforcementOfficials
6. Use of Canines
C. DUE PROCESS AND STUDENT DISCIPLINE
1. Corporal Punishment (ReasonablePunishment,MinimalDue Process,Excessive
Punishment)
2. Due Process (Procedural Due Process,Due Processof Law,Substantive Due Process,
VaguenessDoctrine andPresumptionStandard)
3. School Suspension
4. Expulsion
5. StudentDiscipline forOff-CampusBehavior
6. ClassroomHarassment
7. ChildAbuse
8. PregnantStudents
9. Married Students
D. NATIONAL SECURITY AND SCHOOL SAFETY
1. HomelandSecurity &USA PATRIOTAct
2. PreparingforNational Emergencies
3. HandlingViolence inSchools
4. Bullying
5. Cyberbullying
6. School ViolenceandNegligence
7. EmergingLegal Issues
8. Freedomof Expression:ProhibitionsandSchool Violence
9. Gangs
10. School UniformDressPolicies,SchoolSafety,andStudents’Freedomof Expression
Rights
11. Drug and Alcohol Testing
12. ZeroTolerance andSchool Safety
13. Metal Detectors
E. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
1. IndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationActof 1990 (IDEA) and the Individualswith
DisabilitiesEducationImprovementActof 2004 (IDEIA) (MandatoryRequirements)
2. National Council onDisability:Part1: (Functional Exclusionof DisabledChildren,
InterpretationandIdentificationof ChildrenwithDisabilities,TeacherQualifications,
Pre-referral Intervention,ResponsetoIntervention

3. 3. National Council onDisability:Part2: (AlternativeAssessment,Individualized
Educational ProgramRequirement,Equal AccesstoAssistive TechnologyforStudents
withDisabilities,Personal DataAssistantsforDisabledStudent, ProgramReviewand
Changes)
4. Education-RelatedService Requirements:Part1 (LeastRestrictive Environment,
Inclusionof ChildrenwithDisabilities,
5. Education-RelatedService Requirements:Part2 (Lengthof School Year,Residential
Placement,PrivateSchool Placement)
6. IsolationandRestraintLawsforStudentswith Disabilities
7. DiscipliningStudentswithDisabilities (Expulsion,Suspension)
8. IndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationActof 1997: Part 1 AmendmentsRegarding
Discipline:(DisciplineandOptional Sanctions, Pre/Post-sanctionReview,Behavior
ModificationPlan,andFunctional assessment,Pre-manifestationDetermination
Action,ManifestationDeterminationReview
9. IndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationActof 1997: Part 1 AmendmentsRegarding
Discipline:(Appeal fromDisciplinaryAction,PlacementDuringAppeals,,Preemptive
Strike,ReportingCriminal BehaviorandReferringtoLaw EnforcementandJudicial
agencies,TransmittingStudentInformation,DisciplineandBehaviorare Now Linked
10. Attention-Deficit/HyperactivityDisorderandFederal Protection
11. The ADA AmendmentsActof 2008
F. SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND SCHOOL DISTRICT LIABILITY
1. The School as a Safe Place
2. Liabilityof School Personnel(Individual Liability,VicariousLiability,Foreseeability,
Nuisance,Parental AccesstoSchool Premises)
3. Intentional Torts (Assault,Battery)
4. Defamation (LibelandSlander)
5. DefensesAgainstDefamation (Privilege,GoodFaith,Truth, Mental Distress,False
Imprisonment,TrespassingonPersonal Property)
6. Unintentional Torts (Standardof Care,Breachof Duty, Proximate Cause, Injury)
7. Negligence
8. ProperInstructionandStudentSafety
9. Dutiesof Supervision:Before School,DuringSchool,AfterSchool,DuringFieldTrips,
Parental ConsentandWrittenWaivers
G. LIABILITY AND STUDENT RECORDS
1. SanctionsforViolatingFamilyPrivacyRights
2. Rightsof Parents
3. StudentRecords
4. Rightsof Noncustodial Parents
5. Rightsof Eligible Students
6. Rightsof School Personnel
7. ConfidentialityIssuesInvolvingSchool Counselors
8. Enforcementof State or Federal Statutes
9. FamilyEducationRightsandPrivacyAct (FERPA)
10. DefamationInvolvingSchool Personnel(Slander,Libel, Privilege,GoodFaith,Actsof
Malice)
H. Religion in Schools

4. 1. School-SponsoredPrayer
2. School-SponsoredBible Reading
3. SilentPrayerandMeditation
4. Prayerat School Events (Student-LedPrayeratPublicSchool Events, PrayeratAthletic
Contests)
5. VoluntaryPrayeratCommencementExercises &School BoardMeetings
6. Aidto Parochial Schools (
7. Use of ReligiousSymbols,ReligiousDisplays,TenCommandments,PostingReligious
Mottos and Expressions)
8. Use of School FacilitiesbyReligiousStudentGroups/Outside ReligiousStudentGroups
and byCommunityGroups
9. ReligiousActivitiesandHolidayPrograms (ReleasedTime forReligiousInstruction,
Teachingthe Bible inPublicSchools)
10. IntelligentDesignandSchool Curriculum (Teachingthe Theoryof Evolution)
11. Distributionof ReligiousMaterials
12. Pledge of Allegiance
13. ReligiousFreedomsInvolvingTeachers (ReligiousRightsof Teachersinthe School
Environment&Use of ReligiousGarbbyTeachers
I. TEACHER FREEDOMS
1. Substantive andProcedural Considerations
2. Freedomof Expression (SpeechOutsidethe School Environment,AcademicFreedom)
3. Freedomof Association (MembershipinSubversive Organizations,Political Rights,
Rightto HoldOffice,ParticipationinPolitical Campaigns)
4. Dressand Grooming
5. UnwedPregnantTeachers
6. Rightto Privacy
7. ReligiousDiscriminationinPublicSchools
8. FamilyandMedical Leave Act(FMLA)
J. DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT
1. Equal ProtectionProvisionsof the FourteenthAmendmentandEmployment
Discrimination
2. Due ProcessStandardsand EmploymentDiscrimination
3. Title VII:Discrimination (Retaliation, Sexual Discrimination)
4. The RehabilitationActof 1973 and the AmericanswithDisabilitiesActof 1990
(Qualificationforemployment,gender,racial,religiousandage discrimination)
5. PregnancyandPublicSchool Employment
6. Sexual Harassment
K. RECRUITMENT, TENURE, DISMISSAL, AND DUE PROCESS
1. Recruitmentof Personnel (The EmploymentInterview, HiringDiscrimination)
2. Tenure (Acquisitionof Tenure,Nonrenewal,TenureforPrincipals)
3. Dismissal forCause (Incompetency,Insubordination,Neglectof Duty,Immorality,
HomosexualityandEmploymentinPublicSchools,ConductInvolvingMorality
4. Dismissal forCause (CriminalActivity,Sexual AdvancesTowardStudents, GoodorJust
Cause)
5. Dismissal forCause Financial Exigency(Abolitionof Positions)

5. L. THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMAND SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
1. CompulsoryAttendance (Truancy,Home Schools,CharterSchools)
2. HealthRequirements
3. Residence
4. Intellectual PropertyandFairUse
5. CopyingComputerSoftware
6. Use of the InternetforInstruction (School Officials’Responsibility,Children’sInternet
ProtectionAct,School orDistrictResponsibility,Teacher’sResponsibility, Parent’s
Responsibility)
7. Gradingand AcademicRequirements (StudentTesting, Grade ReductionsforAbsences,
UnexcusedAbsences,AcademicMisconduct, Physical PunishmentforPoorAcademic
Performance,WithholdingDiplomas
8. Educational Malpractice