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Introduction to Education Law and Policy

Course Description

Introduces essential theories in education law and policy. An overview of academic and professional options and opportunities provided by the certificate program. Essential law and policy research and writing skills necessary to begin work on an individual law- and/or policy-related research or practice problem.

Athena Title

Intro Educ Law and Policy

Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in EDLP 8100E

Semester Course Offered

Offered fall

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to understand the essential theories and principles governing practice in education law and policy.
  • Students will be able to understand the academic and professional options and opportunities provided by the certificate program.
  • Students will be able to understand essential law and policy research and writing skills necessary to begin work on an individual law- and/or policy-related research or practice problem.
  • Students will be able to understand the essential law and policy knowledge and skills they need for a successful educational experience in the program. Students will also understand how to begin and continue their research throughout the program of study in preparation for completion and presentation of their work in the capstone seminar.

Topical Outline

  • 1) Overview of Education Law and Policy Principles and Practice
  • 2) Essential Principles of Law, Policy, and Governance
  • 3) Essential Principles of Education Law: a) Students, Educational Institutions, and the State: i) Children’s Rights ii) Parental Rights iii) K-12 Education iv) Higher Education v) State Schools: Powers and Limitations vi) Private Schools: Powers and Limitations b) First Amendment Law: i) Religious Freedoms ii) Freedom of Speech c) Search and Seizure Law: i) Searches Requiring Probable Cause ii) Searches Requiring Reasonable Suspicion iii) Suspicionless Searches iv) Seizure and Bailment d) Due Process of Law: i) Suspensions and Expulsions ii) Investigations and Hearings iii) Grading and Academic Honesty e) Equal Protection of the Laws: i) Racial Discrimination ii) Gender Discrimination iii) Other Status-based Discrimination iv) Anti-harassment Laws v) Economic Inequities f) Disability Law: i) The IDEA ii) Section 504 iii) The ADA g) Contracts and Employment Law: i) Contract Law ii) Employment Discrimination iii) Personnel Disputes h) Tort Law and Liability Issues: i) Negligence Claims ii) Constitutional Torts iii) Malpractice iv) Defamation v) Intentional Torts vi) Safety and Liability vii) Copyright Law and Liability
  • 4) Essential Principles of Legal Research and Writing
  • 5) Essential Principles of Education Policy: i) Values and Education Policy ii) Normative, Structural, Technical, and Constituentive Dimensions of Policies iii) Overview of Policy Process iv) Problem Definition/Agenda Formation v) Enactment vi) Implementation vii) Evaluation
  • 6) Components of Work of the Policy Analyst i) Gathering Evidence, Weighing of Alternatives ii) Arguing for Course of Action iii) Ethics and Policy Analysis
  • 7) Essential Principles of Education Policy Research and Writing
  • 8) Academic and Professional Opportunities in Education Law and Policy: a) Academic options in the Certificate Program b) Professional Practice in Education Law and Policy c) Planning a Successful Course of Study and Applications for Future Practice
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