Summer Institutes

Cyberlaw - Problems of Policy and Jurisprudence in the Information Age

This course introduces the complex issues arising out of the new technologies of the information age economy. The course provides a foundation for understanding the
concepts of jurisprudence, and how those concepts are struggling with the challenges of
the information age. Topics covered include the history of the internet, domain names. privacy (controlling personal information), copyright, schools and cyber cheating, unsolicited commercial email (spam), political speech, sexually explicit expression, cyber stalking, internet filters, online dispute resolution, school/student/faculty issues and finally, employee internet use/abuse problems.

School Law

This course will give participants a greater understanding of both Federal and state law pertaining to education. and the law. Topics coveted include: searching students, sexual harassment, student constitutional rights, employee contracts and grievances, educational malpractice, teacher/administrator liability, supervision etc. There is a heavy emphasis in this course on theory to practice. We will review the most current cases (state and Federal) and trends (No Child left Behind) in education law.

No Child Left Behind

This course will give participants a greater understanding and practical application of the No Child Left Behind legislation, ( a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary School Education Act of 1965). This course is designed and intended for school administrators, teachers, school paraprofessionals, and attorneys. There is a heavy emphasis on theory to practice in this course. Practical news you can use the next day in your profession.

Special Education Law

This course will give participants a greater understanding of both Federal and state Special Education Law. We will also spend time on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This course is designed and intended for teachers and special education administrators.

Topics covered include:

• the Reauthorization of IDEA,
• special education and No Child Left Behind. writing IEPs,
• successfully managing a due process hearing,
• handling parent comp1ains,
• successfully disciplining special education students, and more.

There is a heavy emphasis in. this course on theory to practice, "practical news you can use" the next day in your profession. We will review the most current cases and trends in special education law, analyze cases, and learn. how to research both statutory and case law. Each student will receive a CD rom with all course materials and handouts on the first day of class.

Objectives:

At the end of this course students will be knowledgeable about and familiar with:

1. special education regulations and statutes
2. special education terms and their meaning such as IEP, FAPE, Least Restrictive
   Environment, due process, hearings, identification, assessment and evaluations
3. special education and Section 504 team meetings, ed plans, as we1l as best policies
   and practices
4. best proactive strategies to avoid costly lawsuits and court-ordered placements
5. current special education and 504 cases

Legal Issues in Policy Making

Legal Issues in Policy Making provides a "theory to practice" review of the impact of constitutional law, state statutes and case law on school policy issues. The focus of this course is preventative in nature. We'll learn to proactively spot legal issues and resolve them before the issue gets in the news or a courtroom. Topics to be covered include persistent legal issues schools face such as policies regarding: student speech, faculty free speech, student dress codes, and the regulation of student yearbook pictures. State cases will be reviewed and opportunities will be provided for students to review the legal ramifications of their local school policies. The impact of No Child Left Behind legislation will also be reviewed. Each student wi11 receive a CD Rom with special education law resources, course materials and handouts on the first d3.y of class.

Sample topics covered include school policies and practices regarding:

• student discipline, suspensions and expulsions
• student searches and student handbook considerations
• student constitutional rights
• faculty constitutional rights
• sexual harassment, student-to-student and faculty to student
• policies regarding students and faculty with disabilities
• educator malpractice