Syllabus: Special Education Law
University of Houston Law Center
Professor Dustin Rynders
Fall 2016
I.
Course Description
Course addresses the state and federal laws and regulations that govern the education of
students with disabilities. Course will cover identification, evaluation, individualized
education programs, placement, related services, assistive technology, discipline,
enforcement, and remedies. This course will use a combination of lectures, class
discussions, in-class exercises, and case studies.
II.
Course Materials
a. Special Education Law: Cases and Materials, Author: Weber, Mawdsley and Redfield
Fourth ed.
b. Texas Special Education Side by Side, available for free at
http://framework.esc18.net/Documents/Side-by-Side%20MAR%202012.pdf.
III.
Office Hours
Please email dustin.rynders@gmail.com or text/call (832) 971-8984 to schedule a time to
meet outside of class.
IV.
Class Attendance
The Law Center requires students to attend at least 80% of the scheduled classes. Any
student who attends fewer than the minimum percentage of classes is to be automatically
dropped from the class. Attendance will be taken by passing around a roll sheet at the
beginning of each class. Each student should initial by his or her name. Initialing for another
student is unacceptable. It is your responsibility to insure that you have initialed the roll
sheet before we leave the classroom each day. This is particularly important if you arrive
after class has begun.
V.
Examination and Grading
Your grade in this course will be derived from your examination score. Grades will be
adjusted up to one-half increment based on class participation and performance. For
example, a student with excellent participation whose exam is graded at a B+ could receive
an A- because of participation. The exam will be open text book, but no other materials will
be allowed. Students may tab and write in their text books.
1
Course Outline
NOTE: Portions of this Course Outline may be altered or deleted depending upon the
amount of material that we are able to cover during the semester.
Week
Topic
Reading Assignment
August 22, 2016
Overview
Pgs. 1 – top of 39 (stopping at 3. Education
for all Children with Disabilities);
download Side-by-Side Guide and review
table of contents
August 29, 2016
Eligibility & Evaluation
Pgs. 55 – 100; 110 - 117; and Note 10, pgs.
125–129.
September 5, 2016
Labor day - No class
No Assignment
September 12, 2016
Residency
Pgs. 131 – 159; Homeless Education: An
Introduction to the Issues, available at
http://www.utdanacenter.org/theo/downl
oads/factsheets/RP2_Introbrief.pdf; and,
Questions and Answers on School Selection,
School of Origin, and Transportation
http://www.utdanacenter.org/theo/downl
oads/factsheets/RP34_SelectionQA.pdf
September 19, 2016
Free, Appropriate
Public Education
(FAPE)
Pgs. 161 – 200
September 26, 2016
Other FAPE Issues
Pgs. 200-232; Cypress Fairbanks I.S.D. v.
Michael F., 118 F. 3d 245 (1997).
October 3, 2016
Individualized
Education Program
(IEP)
Pgs. 233 – 265, 273-286
October 10, 2016
Placement, Least
Restrictive
Environment
Pgs. 287 – 317
October 17, 2016
Related Services &
Assistive Technology
Pgs. 319 – 356; Side-By-Side Guide 34
C.F.R. §§300.5 – 300.6 (pg. A-3); 34 C.F.R.
§300.105 (pg. B-10)
October 24, 2016
Behavior & Student
Discipline
Pgs. 447 – 476; Side-by-Side Guide TEX.
ADMIN. CODE §89.1053 (pgs. D-40 – D-43)
2
October 31, 2016
Education Advocacy
for Dually Managed
Youth
No textbook reading. Reading to be
distributed in class.
November 7, 2016
IEP Meeting Role Play
Case file for IEP Meeting Role Play will be
distributed in class
November 14, 2016
Court Proceedings
Pgs. 477-513
Court Proceedings
(cont.)
Pgs. 514-553
November 21, 2016
Transition Services &
Post Secondary
Education
Pgs. 629-678; Side-By-Side Guide pg. A-40
Transition Services
November 28, 2016
3