These lectures will be uniquely geared toward addressing the dramatic changes education law has been experiencing in recent years. Participants will gain an understanding of the major developments that education law has undergone in the past 30 years and where we stand today. Participants will learn how the Supreme Court is allowing more devotional activity in the classroom, as well as the various ways in which states are restricting coverage of divisive topics in the classroom. Participants will also develop a comprehensive knowledge of school voucher programs, which raise concerns about public-school funding and the protection of student rights. We will discuss whether charter schools are public or private, the possibility of religious charter schools, and the attendant concerns about fiscal strain on public school systems. In addition, participants will learn about the legal concerns raised by technology, including student data protection, plagiarism policies, and social media. And, of course, we will cover special education. All lectures will include practical, creative ideas to address solutions for the issues and problems raised. The program will conclude with a session focused on a Model Civil Rights statute, a potential means for states to provide protections and civil rights to students, now that the federal government has signaled that it will be less involved in these matters.

These lectures will help educators, advocates, attorneys, parents and policymakers understand these changes in K-12 education law and think about ways to protect students and educators while also preserving our public-school systems in this era of change. If you or your organization are interested in these topic areas, please contact me!