Legal Issues in Education

Short and Long-Term Student Suspensions: Due Process Requirements, Consistency, and Goss v. Lopez

Review the school board policy and student handbook of your local public school site or district for information regarding their policies on short- and long-term suspensions of students. You may also obtain this information by interviewing an administrator at your chosen site.

Based on the information that you gather, write a 500-750-word essay summarizing:

1.The due process requirements prior to a short-term and a long-term suspension of a student at your local site or district.

2.Are the due process procedures for a short-term and a long-term suspension of a student the same or different?

3.Are these requirements consistent with Goss v. Lopez? Support your position with examples from case law, the U.S. Constitution, or other readings.

Equal Protection and Public Education

Research the implications of equal protection for K-12 students within one of the following groups:

1.Classifications based on English language learners;

2.Classifications through ability grouping/tracking;

3.Classifications in academic programs based on gender;

4.Classifications in sports programs based on gender; and

5.Classifications to assign students to specific schools for racial balance.

In a 500-750-word essay, address the following for the group that you have chosen:

1.Summarize the factual background on how the students are classified;

2.Identify the legal issues presented by these classifications; and

3.Describe what equal protection requires.

First Amendment- Religion and Education

You have a standard practice of displaying all student work in your classroom. Recently, you assigned students to write any essay and submit a pictorial depiction on the person they considered to be their hero. One of your students submitted an essay on Jesus and a drawing of the Last Supper.

In a 500-750-essay, discuss any legal issues regarding the grading of your student’s essay and whether you could display the student’s work. How does the First Amendment apply to this situation?

Include at least five references in your essay. At least three of the five references should cite U.S. Supreme Court cases.

Cyberbullying and the First Amendment

A student notifies you that she has been subjected to bullying through a classmate’s Facebook page. In 500-750-words, address the following:

1.Steps you are required to take that are consistent with state statutes, your district’s school board policies, faculty handbook, and the student handbook;

2.Any First Amendment arguments you think the student with the Facebook page may raise; and

3.Responses you could make to the First Amendment arguments that are consistent with the cases in the assigned readings.

Letter to Editor and Draft Initiative 

Arizona offers unique opportunities for direct democracy based on initiative power. In 2012 the Arizona voters, for example, rejected the Proposition 204 initiative that sought to convert a temporary sales tax that funded education into a permanent tax.

In a 500-750-word “Letter to the Editor,” propose an initiative for an educational issue that you feel needs to be addressed. Include a plan about how this issue could become an initiative under Arizona law.

Your letter should be written to persuade others to agree with your position. Support your position with examples from case law, the U.S. Constitution, or other readings.