EDU538: K-12 Teaching: Legal and Societal Contexts

Credit Hours:
3
Estimated Hours Per Week:
15

Overview

Engaging candidates in research, analysis, and application of important legal concepts to job-related roles and responsibilities, this course prepares candidates for entry into the teaching profession. In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities of teachers, the course covers:

  • Applicable federal, state and local district laws
  • Rules, regulations, policies, and requirements including Constitutional provisions
  • Reporting child abuse and neglect

The course project, Teacher’s Legal Manual: Understanding and Applying Legal Concepts to the Teaching Practice, focuses candidates on various legal issues that apply to the teaching profession. Reviewing and reflecting upon legally challenging circumstances, candidates create a manual of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for application in their own classrooms.

This course does not include a required field-based activity.

Course Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • Describe and discuss the legal framework in which K-12 schools operate, including federal and state constitutions, federal and state statutes, and the U.S. System of Courts.
  • Analyze and articulate federal legal influences on educational practice including No Child Left Behind, IDEA, FERPA, ADA, and the U.S. Constitution.
  • Analyze and articulate the concept of school liability and teachers’ responsibilities to protect students from harm.
  • Analyze and discuss the societal context of K-12 schools, including religion in schools, school vouchers, charter schools, and home schooling, and public sector input from business, advocacy groups, and the public.
  • Research, analyze, and discuss local school and school district rules, regulations, and policies that influence educational practice in schools and classrooms.
  • Synthesize a concise, comprehensive job aid that contains statements of essential laws, regulations, rules, and responsibilities of student teaching.
ENROLLMENT
To enroll in this course, please complete the online application.

Required Texts
EDU538 texts are available from the JIU/Follett Bookstore