EDLR 8500 - District Leadership for Legal Issues in Education

Credit Hours: 3

American public education operates within a complex framework of law. Federal and state constitutional provisions and statutes, along with administrative regulations and local school board policies, control the daily operation of our schools. It is imperative that all who are employed by school districts, particularly central office administrators, are conversant with this myriad of legal mandates and constraints so that they can operate effectively and efficiently and avoid time consuming litigation and grievances. The purpose of this course is to familiarize aspiring superintendents with the legal bases for the administration of public schools with a focus on fiscal responsibility. It is hoped that by the conclusion of this course that the students will possess the knowledge base and research skills necessary to make intelligent and informed educational decisions. In this course, emphasis will be placed on Pennsylvania school law. All candidates will be required to complete field work/experiences with a focus on fiscal responsibility that are designed to reinforce and extend upon the learning objectives of the course.