Routledge Legal Issues in Special Education: Principles, Policies, and Practices

Legal Issues in Special Education provides teachers and school administrators with a clearly written, well-organized, and understandable guide from the perspective of the practitioner without formal legal training. Even though over 50 percent of students with disabilities are now educated in general education classes, most teachers are not required to complete coursework in special education law and can unwittingly expose themselves and their schools to liability for violating the rights of students with disabilities. This practitioner’s guide explicitly addresses the major issues and legal complexities educators inevitably face when dealing with special education legal and policy issues. Using case-based learning to synthesize important legal concepts and principles from leading special education legal cases, this text guides educators, administrators, and parents alike toward a thorough understanding of, and the ability to navigate, many of the current and pressing legal concerns in special education. Review "Most textbooks used in American law schools rely on the case-based learning method, in which actual judicial opinions or parts of judicial opinions are the primary method of teaching the law. Unfortunately, this method has been viewed as a less useful form of instruction for nonlawyers. In Legal Issues in Special Education, however, the authors combine direct instruction of important special education legal principles with illustrative cases. The result is a very successful and much appreciated addition to the literature on teaching special education law to teachers and administrators." Mitchell L. Yell, Ph.D., Fred and Francis Lester Palmetto Chair in Teacher Education at the University of South Carolina. "This book fills an important need in the professional learning of all educators. As a former superintendent of schools, I wish this resource had been available for our faculty and leadership team. As the current director of an Ed.D. Program, I see the need for practicing school and district leaders to deepen their knowledge in special education law. Courses in school law cannot devote sufficient attention to special education. This resource will help fill a critical gap for novice and experienced educators." David G. Title, Ed.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Director, Ed.D. Educational Leadership, Farrington College of Education, Sacred Heart University and former superintendent for Fairfield Public Schools and Bloomfield Public Schools in Connecticut. "Legal Issues in Special Education is essential reading for school administrators, policymakers, teachers, and parents alike. This book carefully provides a framework for improving special education legal literacy. In addition, it explores contemporary special education law topics using clear, practical, and focused legal analysis. Legal Issues will be a resource for us all in the years to come." Natasha M. Strassfeld, J.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Special Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. "This book is a helpful resource and provides an important need in the professional learning of all educators. School and district leaders need to expand their knowledge in special education law and this book helps in accomplishing this." Kevin M. McKenna, Esquire, Managing Shareholder of the Exton, Pennsylvania office of Latsha Davis and McKenna P.C. and is Chairman of the firm’s statewide education practice. About the Author Kevin P. Brady, Ph.D. is Associate Professor and Program Director, University Council of Educational Administration (UCEA) Program Center for the Study of Leadership and the Law at the University of Arkansas, USA. Charles J. Russo, J.D., Ed.D. is Joseph Panzer Chair in Education, Director of the Ph.D. Program, and Research Professor of Law at the University of Dayton, USA. Cynthia A. Dieterich, P