Group1:NathanielBacon,RachaelEversole,MichelleKrum,JasonPolk,BenSteward,

SaraZabrowski
Chapter1:LegalFrameworkAffectingPublicSchools
Overview
ThepurposeofthischapteristogiveanoverviewofhowtheUnitedStateslegalsystemisset
up.Italsodiscusseswhichpartsofthelegalsystemimpacteducation.
SourcesofLaw
Publicschoolsmustfollowlawsatthelocal,state,andfederallevels.
BillofRights
o Guaranteesindividualrightsandrestrictsthegovernmentspower
FourteenthAmendment
o Dueprocessoflawandfundamentalfairnessareappliedtothestates
o Ensuresthatstatesenforcetheirbillofrights
FederalConstitution
o Primarysourceoflawthatprotectsfundamentalrightsofcitizen
o Impactstheoperationandmanagementofschools
o Separatepowers,notonebranchhastoomuchpower
KeyAmendmentsthatImpactPublicSchools
o FirstAmendmentbasicfreedomsofstudentsandschoolpersonnel
o FourthAmendmentrightstoprivacy
o FifthAmendmentprotectionagainstselfincrimination
o EighthAmendmentprotectindividualsagainstcruelandunusualpunishment
o TenthAmendmenteducationistheresponsibilityofthestate
o FourteenthAmendmentdueprocess
StateConstitutions
o Itisuptothestatetocontroleducation
o Stateconstitutionsprovidethelawforindividualstates
Statutes
o Actsofthelegislativebranch,butaresubjecttoreviewbythejudicialbranch
o Statutesarethemostabundantsourceoflawaffectingpublicschools(p.3).
o Usedtodevelopnewlaworchangeoldlaws
CourtorCaseLaw
o Decisionsofthecourts,usuallyreliesonpastcourtdecisions(precedents)
o Rulingsonlyaffectthosewithinthesamejurisdiction
o TheU.S.SupremeCourtistheonlycourtwhosedecisionsaffectschoolsacross
thewholenation
ResearchingCaseLaw
o Casesarepublishedforotherstoreadandresearch
o LexisNexis,Westlaw,Findlawarefreesitestoresearchcases
StateAgencies
o Stateshavecreatedadditionalagenciestoexecutelawinthepublicschools.
o StateBoardsofEducation
Membersareappointedordecidedinanelectionbypopularvote

Determinesthedirectionofeducationinitsstatebydevelopingpolicies
Sixlegalpowers:
establishcertificationstandardsforteachers/administrators
establishhighschoolgraduationrequirements
establishtestingprograms
establishstandardsforaccreditationsofschooldistrictsandteacher
andadministratorpreparationprograms
reviewandapprovethebudgetofthestateeducationagency
developrulesandregulationsfortheadministrationofstate
programs
o StateDepartmentofEducation
Headedbythestatesuperintendentorchiefstateschoolofficer
Containsspecialistsinallareasofeducation
Provideadvicetolocalschooldistrictsandthestateboard
o LocalSchoolBoards
Generalsupervisionoftheschoolswithinthedistrict
Createsschooldistrictpolicies
Formulateavisionandmissionforthedistrictsfuture
Advisedbyitsattorney
Membersareeitherappointedorelected
Selectthesuperintendent,boardwillformulatepoliciesandthe
superintendentwillexecutethem
Adoptsanannualbudget
Operatesinanopenandtransparentmannertothepublic,butcanalso
holdexecutivesessionstodiscusssensitivematters
U.S.SystemofCourts
Judicialsystemconsistsoffederalandstatecourtsorganizedthesame:trialcourts,
intermediatecourtsofappeal,andtheSupremeCourt
Courtsperform3judicialfunctions:1.settledisputesthroughapplicationofbasic
principlesoflaw2.interpretlegislativeacts3.determineconstitutionalityoflegislative
acts.
FederalCourts
o dealwithfederalandconstitutionalissues,orwherepartiesarefromdifferent
states95federaldistrictcourtsinUS(oneineverystate,largerstateshavemore)
StateCourts
o Manyeducationalissuesareheardatstatelevelbecausetheydonotinvolve
federalissues
o Statecourtsareresponsibleforstateconstitutionallaw,statestatutes,and
commonlaw
CourtsofGeneralJurisdictiondistrictorcircuitcourts
CourtsofSpecialJurisdictionmunicipal,justiceofthepeace,small
claims,trafficcourt,etc.
IntermediateAppellateCourtsAppealsfromtrialcourtsorcertain
agencies

AppellateCourtsrepresentshighestcourtswithinthestate,courtsoflast
resort
AnalysisofaCourtopinion
o Casenamedforpartiesinvolved(Plaintiff/Defendant)
o Procedure
Plaintifffilescomplaintseekingreliefbythecourt,defendantrespondsto
tryandjustifyactions
Inanappeal,explanationisgivenastowhyitreachedthatlevel
o Facts
describethedetailsleadingtotheconflict(evidence)
factsareonlyatissueduringlowercourtlevel,notinappeals,appeals
applythelawtothefactsasdeterminedbythetrial
o RulingandJustificationwrittendecisionoropinionrepresentingthecourts
rulingandjustification
o Disposition
followsrulingtodeterminewhethertheplaintiffordefendantwas
supportedbythecourts
Ifitgoestoappealscourt,thedecisioncanbeupheld,reversed,or
modified
U.S.SupremeCourt
o noappeals,rulingcanonlybeoverturnedbyanamendmenttotheUSconstitution
o casesreachthesupremecourtintwoways;1.onappeal(statecourts,federal
courtofappeals,federaldistrictcourts)2.OnCertiorari,adiscretionaryreview,
(statecourtsorfederalcourtsofappeal)
o Courtmeetsfor36weeks;eachcasegetsonlyanhourtoargueitsposition

ApplicationforAdministratorsandSchoolDistricts
Thischapterhighlightshowthepoliciesthatgovernschoolsarecreated.Whateverpolicies
aremadeatthelocalorstatelevelmustfallundertheframeworkoftheU.S.Constitution,
becauseitistheprimarysourceoflaw.Sinceeducationisthestatesresponsibility,it
establishesrequirementsfordistrictstofollow.Localschoolboardscreatethepoliciesfor
theirowndistrict.Asanadministrator,youmustunderstandthepoliciesthatarecreatedand
abidebythem.

Chapter2:ReligionandthePublicSchools
Overview
TheFirstAmendmentcontainstwoessentialclausesregardingreligionthe
establishmentclause(prohibitsthestatefrompassinglawsthataidareligionorshow
preferenceofonereligionoveranother)andthefreeexerciseclause(prohibitsthestate
frominterferingwithindividualreligiousfreedoms.)
SchoolSponsoredPrayerTheissueofprayerinpublicschoolswasaddressedina
landmarkcaseintheearly1960sbyU.S.SupremeCourt.Beforethis,prayerwasoffered
inpublicschoolsacrosstheUnitedStates.
SchoolSponsoredBibleReadingIn1963theU.S.SupremeCourtaddressedthe
constitutionalityofthepracticeofBiblereadinginpublicschools.
StudentLedPrayeratPublicSchoolEventsThefirstamendmentdoesnotprohibit
studentinitiatedprivateprayer.Studentshavetherighttoprayatanytime.
PrayeratAthleticContestsProhibitionofprayeratschooleventswasgivenamajor
thrustwhentheU.S.SupremeCourtina6to3rulinginSantaFeIndependentSchool
Districtv.JaneDoebannedstudentledprayeratathleticcontests,graduationsandother
schoolsponsoredevents.
PrayeratSchoolBoardMeetingsSchoolboardsthatopentheirmeetingswithprayerare
violatingtheFirstAmendment.Courtbelievesthatprayerhasthetendencytoendorse
Christianitythroughexcessivelyentanglingtheboardinreligiousmatters.
ReligiousSymbolsPublicschoolsmaynotdisplayreligiousexhibitsorothervisual
materials.Itmaybeappropriate,however,forpublicschoolteacherstoacknowledgeand
explainthevariousholidaysofallculturalandreligiousgroupsasaunitincultural
heritageorsomeotherrelatedsubject,aslongasasecularpurposeisserved.
ReligiousDisplaysCertaintypesofdisplaysmaybepermittedinpublicschoolsettings.
PublicSchoolsmaynoterectanytypeofreligiousdisplayonschoolproperty.
TenCommandmentsPostingtheTenCommandmentsisdeemedunconstitutional.Those
whoopposeitarguethatthefirstfourorfivecommandmentsmadesolereferenceto
JewishandChristianreligion,whichoffendedothers.
PostingReligiousMottosandExpressionsSomestatessupportpostingInGodWe
Trustduetothefactithasbeenonourcurrencysince1864.Opponentsarguethatthe
boardisattemptingtouseafamiliarandgenerallyacceptedphrasetoinjectreligioninto
publicschools.
UseofSchoolfacilitiesbyReligiousStudentGroupsCongressattemptedtoaddress
facilityusewhenitpassedtheEqualAccessActin1984fortheexpressedpurposeof
providingstudentreligiousclubsequalopportunitiestoaccesshighschoolfacilitiesas
othernoncurriculaclubsenjoyed.Underfederalstatute,itisunlawfulforanypublic
secondaryschoolthathascreatedalimitedopenforumtodenyaccesstostudent
initiatedgroupsonthebasisofreligious,politicalorphilosophicalcontentoftheir
speech.Alimitedopenforumexistswhenanadministratorallowsoneormorenon
curricularelatedstudentgroupstomeetonschoolpremisesduringnoninstructionaltime.
UseofSchoolFacilitiesbyoutsideReligiousGroupsManylocaldistrictsprovideaccess
toschoolfacilitiesforvariouspublicorganizationduringnoninstructionalhours.School

officialsrespondthatthedistrictmustmaintainaclearseparationbetweenreligious
activitiesandstateactivitiesbasedonFirstAmendmentprohibitions.
UseofSchoolFacilitiesbyCommunityGroupsDistrictshavethecapacitytoformulate
policiesgoverningtheuseofschoolfacilitieswithintheirdistricts.Ifsupported,the
districtallowscommunitygroupstouseitsfacilitiesduringnoninstructionalhours.
RighttoDenyAccessSchoolDistrictsmaydenyaccesstocommunitygroupseven
whenanopenforumexistsininstanceswherethereisevidenceofabuseordestructionof
property.
ReligiousActivitiesandHolidayProgramsTheobservanceofholydaysbypublicschool
isclearlyanunconstitutionalactivity,ifconductedinadevotionalatmosphere.TheFirst
Amendmentprohibitsstatesfromeitheraidingreligionorshowingpreferenceofone
religionoveranother.Publicschoolsmaynotcelebratereligiousholidays.Thereshould
benoworshipordevotionalservices,religiouspageantsorplaysofanynatureheldinthe
school.However,certainprogramsmaybeconducted,ifasecularpurposeisclearly
served.
TeachingtheTheoryofEvolutionClassroominstructionregardingevolutiontheoryhas
resultedinlegalchallenges.Thedecisionregardingtheinclusionofevolutiontheoryis
lefttothediscretionoftheschoolboard.
DistributionofReligiousMaterialsPublicschoolpersonnelarenotpermittedto
distributereligiousmaterialsonschoolpremises.Publicschoolofficialsalsomaynot
allowreligiousgroupstodistributereligiousmaterialsonschoolgrounds.Supportof
suchpracticeswouldsuggestthattheschoolembracesreligionandcouldsuggest
preferenceofonereligionoveranother.
PledgeofAllegianceU.S.SupremeCourtheldthatpublicschoolofficialsmaynot
requirestudentstosaluteandpledgeallegiancetotheflag.Itmustbestrictlyvoluntary.
ReligiousFreedomsinvolvingTeachersBecauseteachersarepublicemployeesand
schoolsmustremainneutralinallmattersregardingreligion,reasonablerestraintsaffect
theexerciseofreligiousrightsintheschoolsetting.
ReligiousRightsofTeachersintheSchoolEnvironmentBasedonfreedomofreligion,
teachersshouldbeaffordedtherighttoinformallyengageinreligiousspeechwiththeir
colleagues,includingprayerorBiblestudy.Untilissuesareaddressedincourt,itis
difficulttoaddresshowtheymightrule.
UseofReligiousGarbbyTeachersManystatestatutesprohibitpublicteachersfrom
wearingreligiousgarbintheclassroom.

LandmarkCases
Engelv.Vitale(1962)bannedprayerinpublicschoolsthestatuteauthorizingprayer
recitationinthepublicschoolsisindirectviolationoftheFirstAmendmentprohibition
ofastateestablishmentofreligion.
Lemonv.Kurtzman(1971)wasarulingthatestablishedtheLemonTestforreligious
activitiesinschool.
Jonesv.ClearCreekIndependentSchoolDistrict(1992)allowedforvoluntarystudent
ledprayeratgraduationceremonies.

AbingtonSchoolDistrictv.Schempp(1963)declaredschoolsponsoredBiblereadingin
publicschoolsintheUnitedStatestobeunconstitutional.
WestVirginiaBoardofEducationv.Barnette(1943)statesthatpublicschoolstudents
whochoosenottojoinintheflagsaluteforreasonsofconsciencemightnotbe
compelledtorecitethePledgeofAllegiance.

ApplicationforAdministratorsandSchoolDistricts
Mixingofreligionandthepublicschoolsystemhasalwaysbeenacontroversialtopicforall
parties.Thischapterhighlightsthecourtcasesandrulingsinresponsetoreligionandthepublic
school.Religioushappeningsandeventsarenotpermissiblebytheschoolnorcanbeledby
schoolpersonnel.Aschoolcannotrequirestudents/patronstoparticipateinreligiousprayer,
howeverstudentinitiatedandledprayerispermissible.Asanadministratoritisimportantto
allowreligiousgroupsinsideandoutsideoftheschooltousethefacilityinanopenforum,just
asnonreligiousgroupsareallowed.Iftherearequestionsonanyreligiousactivities/events,itis
importanttoconsultadistrictslegalcounsel.TheBiblecanbetaught,butonlyobjectivelyand
cannotbedonedevotionally.Theteachingofthebiblemustbeexpressedappropriatelytothe
teachers,parentsandstudentstoensureallareonthesamepage.Asanadministratoritisvitalto
understandandbecognizantofallreligiousstipulationswithinthepublicschoolsetting.
Religionandthepublicschooldonotmeshwellduetocourtrulingsofthepast.ThePledgeof
Allegiancefallsintothisanditmustnotberequiredofstudentstoparticipateinthestatingofthe
Pledgeduetotheirfreedomofexpression.