EL 833 Fall 08
Wichita State University
College of Education
Course Syllabus Outline
Fall Semester 2008
EL 833, School Law & Personnel Management (3 hours):
LOCATION: 229 Hubbard Hall
CO-INSTRUCTORS: Dr. Marilyn Herr, Elementary Transition Principal,
Andover USD 385
Dr. Sherry Goodvin, Director Secondary
Education/Technology, Maize USD 266
OFFICE: 104 Hubbard Hall (lower level)
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment only
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Marilyn
Office
316-218-4309
E-Mail
mherr@usd385.org
Department Office:
Department FAX:
Sherry
316-350-2003
sgoodvin@usd266.com
978-3325
978-6996
Note: Weather Cancellations – Call 978-6633 (select 2) to obtain
information on weather related class cancellations.
Catalog Description: Examines concepts related to staffing issues,
including selection and recruitment, certification, orientation, staff
development, evaluation, transfer and dismissal, and retirement.
Covers general concepts of law, interpretations of statutes and court
decisions affecting education, the legal responsibilities of school
personnel, and professional negotiations.
Prerequisite(s): Admission to the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership or
instructor’s consent.
Textbooks:
Essex, N. L. (2008). School law and the public schools: A practical
guide for educational leaders (4th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Murdick, N., Gartin, B., & Crabtree, T. L. (2006). Special education
law (2nd ed.). Boston: Prentice Hall.
Lambert, L. (2003). Leadership capacity for lasting school
improvement. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development.
Supplemental Assigned Readings (copies provided by instructors or
posted on Blackboard):
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EL 833 Fall 08
Buckingham, M., & Coffman, C. (1999). First, break all the rules: What
the world's greatest managers do differently. New York: Simon &
Schuster.
Cowan, J. K., & Effel, L. (2001). Interviewing job applicants: Can I
ask this question? ACCA Docket, 19(3), 40-48.
Dowling-Sendor, B. (2004, January). Keeping it simple. American School
Board Journal, 191(1). Retrieved August 16, 2004 from
http://www.asbj.com/2004/01/0104schoollaw.html
Dowling-Sendor, B. (2003, November). Opening the schoolhouse door.
American School Board Journal, 190 (11). Retrieved August 16,
2004 from http://www.asbj.com/2003/11/1103schoollaw.html
Dowling-Sendor, B. (2003, February). A question of equality. American
School Board Journal, 190 (2). Retrieved August 16, 2004 from
http://www.asbj.com/2003/02/0203schoollaw.html
Evans, R. (1989). The faculty in midcareer: Implications for school
improvement. Educational Leadership, 46 (8), 10-15.
Krupp, J-A. (1987). Understanding and motivating personnel in the
second half of life. Journal of Education, 169 (1), 7-33.
National School Boards Association. (2004). Dealing with legal matters
surrounding students' sexual orientation and gender identity.
Retrieved June 10, 2005, from
http://www.nsba.org/site/docs/34600/34527.pdf.
Patterson, J. A., Marshall, C., & Bowling, D. C. (2000). Are
principals prepared to manage special education dilemmas? NASSP
Bulletin, 84(613), 9-20.
Schwartzbeck, T. D. (2002, February). Choosing a model and types of
models: How to find what works for your school. The National
Clearinghouse for Comprehensive School Reform Research Brief,
Washington, DC.
Smith, T. E. C. (2001). Section 504, the ADA, and the public schools:
What educators need to know. Remedial and Special Education,
22(6), 335-343.
Torres, M. S., & Chen, Y. (2006). Assessing Columbine's impact on
students' fourth amendment case outcomes: Implications for
administrative discretion and decision making. NASSP Bulletin,
90(3), 185-206.
Trimble, S., Davis, E., & Clanton, M. T. (2003, November). Working
with ineffective teachers. Principal Leadership, 4 (2), 36-41.
Retrieved August 20, 2004 from http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org
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EL 833 Fall 08
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Waintroob, A. R. (1995, October). Don’t fool with incompetent
teachers. Education Digest, 6 (4), 36-39. Retrieved August 20,
2004 from http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org
Wong, H. K. (2004). Induction programs that keep new teachers teaching
and improving. NASSP Bulletin, 88(638), 41-58.
Content
Knowledge,
Pedagogical
Content
Knowledge, and
Alignment
with
Collaboration
Standards
(CKS)
(C)
Professionalism
and Reflection
(PR)
Human
Development and
Diversity (HDD)
Connection of
Teaching
Experiences and
Assessment
Technology (T)
(CTA)
Major Topics:
Each guiding principle, associated with a major topic, is addressed
and assessed in this course.
Guiding Principles from the Unit
Conceptual Framework*
Major Topics
1. Legal context of education and
it’s philosophical, historical,
X
and social foundations
2. Personnel legal issues include
certification, hiring, evaluation,
X
tenure, dismissal, and
negotiations.
3. Legal aspects of schooling,
including constitutional issues
X
X
related to students and personnel.
4. Laws pertaining to students
with exceptionalities.
X
5. Action research project
mentoring students enrolled in EL
X
813
*
http://webs.wichita.edu/depttools/DeptToolsMemberFiles/coedean/revised
CF_2_24_03.pdf
Technology Expectations In addition to Blackboard, students are
expected to use the Internet for information retrieval and to locate
various sources of information available on the Internet that pertain
to school law and personnel management.
Students will be required to subscribe to the NSBA’s Legal Clips
weekly newsletter at
http://www.nsba.org/site/page.asp?TRACKID=&CID=373&DID=8614
EL 833 Fall 08
Learner Outcomes: (assessment, guiding principles, guiding program
document, professional standards)
Guiding
Professional
Related
Principles Unit
Standards
Course Outcomes
Assessment
Conceptual
(KSDE)
The student will:
Framework
(PR, HDD, CTA, T,
CKS, C)
1. Understand
Med action
CKS1
KSDE 1.2
information sources, research
data collection, and rubric
analysis strategies.
Unison
PR1
KSDE 3.1
2. Understand human
portfolio
resource management
and laws pertaining
Policy
to certified and
analysis
classified staff.
rubric
3. Understand
Unison
PR1
KSDE 3.3
principles, issues,
Portfolio
and laws relating to
school facilities
and use of space.
SPED legal
PR1
KSDE 4.4
4. Understand
aspects
federal and state
paper
laws that apply to
students with
exceptionalities
Course Assignments:
This course will include five graded assignments – four individual and
one team-based - in addition to class assignments for selected
activities. The graded assignments include:
Policy/Negotiated Agreement Analysis Paper Completion of a paper that
summarizes and analyzes selected negotiated agreement, personnel, and
student policies in each student’s school district. The guidelines for
this assignment are posted on Blackboard. This paper constitutes 25%
of the course grade.
Due Date: October 27, 2008
Legal Aspects of Special Education Paper: Students will select at
least five of the special education experiences/activities listed on
the EL 835 syllabus and write a 5-10 page paper using the rubric
provided. The paper counts for 20% of the overall course grade.
Due Date: November 17, 2008
Unison Case Study Portfolio: Each team will submit a portfolio that
contains products developed throughout the semester from case-related
class activities and assignments that integrate personnel law and
policy, special education law, students rights, and use of facilities.
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EL 833 Fall 08
5
The team will receive one grade for the portfolio, which counts for
20% of the overall grade for this course.
Due Date: December 1, 2008
Action Research Project: Students will work on an action research
project on a topic of importance to their schools. The project will
span across two semesters, but students will be assessed on their
progress at the end of the fall semester. EL 833 students are expected
to mentor new students on the project. Progress on action research
projects constitutes 25% of the semester grade.
Blackboard/Class Participation: EL 833 is a Blackboard-mediated
course. Students will use Blackboard to access class information,
including the syllabus, assignments, and course materials. Students
will participate in threaded discussions by researching how the legal
and personnel concepts discussed in class apply to their own
districts. Students will be assigned responsibility for initiating and
facilitating the discussions. Participation in Blackboard discussions
constitutes 10% of the grade for this course and students will be
assessed individually.
Students will also be assessed on their preparation for class and
participation in seminar discussion and various large and small group
activities.
Performance Assessment
Both the state of Kansas and national accreditation requires that
university programs for the preparation of teachers and other
school personnel be performance-based. In particular, this
requires that students not only pass required courses/attain
certain GPAs, but also receive satisfactory ratings on certain
required assessments, many of those embedded within program
coursework. One or more of those required assessments occur in
this course. A title/description of any assessments and
associated rubrics and passing criteria follows:
Action Research: Satisfactory completion of the assignment requires
that all of the six components be rated at the “Criteria Met” (Target)
or “Criteria Not Complete” (Acceptable) level.
Policy/Negotiated Agreement Analysis: Satisfactory completion of the
assignment requires that all components but one are rated at the
“Criteria Met” (Target) or “Criteria Not Complete” (Acceptable) level
with no more than one rating at the “Criteria Not Met” (Unacceptable)
level
Unison Case Portfolio: Satisfactory completion of the assignment
requires that all of the components but one are rated at the “Criteria
Met” (Target) or “Criteria Not Complete” (Acceptable) level with no
more than one rating at the “Criteria Not Met” (Unacceptable) level.
EL 833 Fall 08
Students failing to attain a satisfactory rating on a required
assessment may be provided special assistance. The university is
not able however, to recommend individuals for endorsement/
licensure who fail to attain a satisfactory rating on required
assessments, even though they may receive an acceptable course
grade or exceed minimum GPAs.
Academic Honesty: A standard of honesty, fairly applied to all
students, is essential to a learning environment. Students abridging a
standard of honesty must accept the consequences; penalties are
assessed by appropriate classroom instructors or other designated
people. Serious cases may result in discipline at the college or
University level and may result in suspension or dismissal. Dismissal
from a college for academic dishonesty constitutes dismissal from the
University. (WSU Student Code of Conduct)
Special Needs: ADA: If you have a physical, perceptual,
psychiatric/emotional, medical, or learning disability that may impact
your ability to carry out assigned course work, contact the Office of
Disability Services (DS), Grace Wilkie Annex, room 173. (Voice/TDD
978-3309). ODS will review your concerns, confirm your disability,
and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary. All
information and documentation of your disability is confidential and
will not be released by DS without your written permission.
Tentative Course Schedule:
Date
Topic
August 25
Class Orientation
5:00-6:55
Review Syllabus
Introduction to Legal
Framework of Education
Assignment
Read: Essex Chapter 1
Download and print both
seminar and practicum
syllabi and bring to class.
September 1
Labor Day Holiday
No Classes
September 8
5:00 – 6:55
Integrating Personnel
Management and Legal
Concepts – Case Analysis
Read: Unison Case (download
from Blackboard)
Evans; Krupp
Lambert, Chapters 1 & 5
September 22
5:00 – 6:55
Selecting a New Teacher
for Unison
Read: Essex Chapter 9 + pp.
268-270
Buckingham & Coffman
Cowan & Effel
Rebore handouts (download
from Blackboard)
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EL 833 Fall 08
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Read: Wong
Lambert, chapter 4
Review September 10 readings
September 29
5:00 – 8:00
Selecting a New Teacher
Induction and Development
of New Staff Members
October 6
5:00 – 8:00
October 13
5:00 – 6:55
Seminar Does Not Meet
Practicum Meets 5:00-8:00
Troubles at Unison: What
to Do With a Marginal
Teacher
October 20
5:00-8:00
October 27
5:00 – 6:55
Practicum Seminar
Location TBA
Tragedy Strikes Unison:
Teacher dismissal, nonrenewal, due process
Read: Essex, chapter 10
Handout: Employment Law 101
http://www.ksde.org/
Laws/Regulations
Kansas Education Statutes
Search: Teacher Due Process
Due: Policy Analysis Paper
November 3
5:00 – 6:55
More Troubles at Unison
Read: Essex Chapters 3 & 4
Torres & Chen
November 10
5:00 – 6:55
Facilities and Use of
Space
Read: Essex, pp. 31-38
Dowling-Sendor (3 articles)
November 17
5:00 – 6:55
Negotiations and
Collective Bargaining
Guest Speaker: Mike
Clagg, Asst. Supt. Human
Resources, Newton
Review Essex Chapter 10
Download PNA from Blackboard
Due: Special Education Paper
December 1
5:00 – 6:55
Legal Aspects of Services
for Students with
Exceptionalities
Read: Essex, Chapter 5
Patterson, Marshall, &
Bowling; Smith; NSBA
pamphlet
Review Murdick, Gartin &
Crabtree
Due: Unison Case Portfolio
Read: Trimble, Davis, &
Clanton and Weintroob
articles
Plan of Assistance (download
from Blackboard)
SUGGESTED READING LIST:
Alexander, K., & Alexander, D. M. (1998). American public school law
(4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
EL 833 Fall 08
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Beyer, D. (1997). School safety and the legal rights of students
(ERIC/CUE Digest, 121). (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No.
ED 414345)
Cambron-McCabe, N. H., McCarthy, M. M., & Thomas, S. B. (2004). Public
school law: Teachers' and students' rights (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn &
Bacon.
Castetter, W.B. (1992). The personnel function in educational
administration (5th ed.) New York: Macmillan.
Clement, M. C. (2000). Building the best faculty: Strategies for
hiring and supporting new teachers. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow.
Costa, A. (1994). Cognitive coaching: A foundation for Renaissance
schools. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon.
Dunklee, D. R., & Shoop, R. J. (2002). The principal's quick-reference
guide to school law: Reducing liability, litigation, and other
potential legal tangles. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Feiman-Nemser, S. (2001). Helping novices learn to teach: Lessons from
an exemplary support teacher. Journal of Teacher Education,
52(1), 17-30.
Fessler, R., & Christensen, J. C. (1992). The teacher career cycle:
Understanding and guiding the professional development of
teachers. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Fischer, L., Schimmel, D., & Stellman, L. R. (2003). Teachers and the
law (6th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Fuhr, D. L. (1993). Managing mediocrity in the classroom: School
leaders must rescue students from borderline teachers. The School
Administrator, 50(4), 26-29.
Guskey, T. R. (1999). Evaluating professional development. Chicago:
Alta Mira.
Imber, M., & VanGeel, T. (2000). Education law (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ:
Erlbaum.
Kelly, C. L. (Ed.). (1997). School law handbook (2nd ed.). Topeka, KS:
Kansas Association of School Boards.
LaMorte, M. W. (2003). School law: Cases and concepts (8th ed.).
Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Lawrence, C. E., Vachon, M. K., Leake, D. O., & Leake, B. H. (2001).
The marginal teacher: A step-by-step guide to fair procedures for
identification and dismissal (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin
Press.
EL 833 Fall 08
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Looney, S. D. (2004). Education and the legal system: A guide to
understanding the law. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
McCarthy, M. M., Cambron-McCabe, N. H., & Thomas, S. B. (2004). Legal rights
of teachers and students. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
McGrath, M. J. (1993). When it's time to dismiss an incompetent
teacher: School leaders need a legally sound process for
supervision, documentation, termination. The School
Administrator, 50(4), 30-33.
Moore, M. V. (1995). A re-examination of employment decision-making
power in Kansas. Kansas School Board Journal, 34(4), 9, 10.
Murphy, C.U., & Lick, D. W. (2001). Whole-faculty study groups:
Creating student-based professional development (2nd ed.).
Newbury Park, CA: Corwin.
Phay, R., & Goldsmith, K. (1991). Teacher nonrenewal: What constitutes
arbitrary and capricious action? School Law Bulletin, 22, 1-7.
Robbins, P. (1991), How to plan and implement a peer coaching program.
Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development.
Richards, D. M. (2003). An overview of § 504. Richards, Lindsey, and
Martin, LLP. Retrieved August 18, 2005, from
http://www.504idea.org/504_Overview_Fall_2003.pdf.
Steffy, B. (Ed.). (2000). Life cycle of the career teacher. Thousand
Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Stefkovich, J. A., & Torres, M. S. (2003). The demographics of
justice: Student searches, student rights, and administrator
practices. Educational Administration Quarterly, 39(2), 259-282.
Trimble, S. (2001, March). The teacher applicant pool: What top
administrators seek [Electronic version]. Principal Leadership,
1(7), 44-7.
Valente, W. D., & Valente, C. M. (2001). Law in the schools (5th ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice-Hall.
Waintroob, A. R. (1995). Remediating and dismissing the incompetent
teacher. The School Administrator, 52(5), 20-24.
Ward, M. E. (1995). Teacher dismissal: The impact of tenure,
administrator competence, and other factors. The School
Administrator, 52(5), 16-19.
EL 833 Fall 08
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Whiteman, D. (1998). Kansas school safety laws allow for 0 tolerance.
Kansas School Boards Journal, 37(3), 4-7.
Yudof, M. G., Kirp, D. L., Levin, B., & Moran, R. F. (2002).
Educational policy and the law (4th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth/Thompson.
Zirkel, P. (2003). Top five Section 504 errors. ELA Notes, 38 (3).
ON-LINE RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION LAW:
http://www.ksde.org (Kansas State Department of Education
http://lawcrawler.findlaw.com/federal.html (Legal Webcrawler)
http://www.nsba.org/site/index.asp (National School Boards
Association)
http://www.nsba.org/cosa/ (NSBA, Council of School Attorneys)
http://www.ilrg.com/ (Internet Legal Resource Guide: Find Anything!)
http://www.educationlaw.org/ (Education Law Association, a nonprofit,
non-advocacy organization. Has links to many other legal sites)
http://www.ascd.org (Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development. Links to reading rooms for Educational Leadership and
Classroom Leadership)
ON-LINE RESOURCES FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION & DISABILITIES:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html (Office of
Special Education and Rehabilitative Services)
http://www.wrightslaw.com/ (Special Education Law)
http://www.nichcy.org/ (National Dissemination Center for Children and
Youth with Disabilities)
http://www.ideapractices.org/ (Council for Exceptional Children)
http://www.rrfcnetwork.org/ (Regional Resource and Federal Network
Centers)
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.htm (Americans with Disabilities
Act/Department of Justice)
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/504.html (Section 504 of the 1973
Rehabilitation Act/Office for Civil Rights/Department of Health and
Human Services)