When K-12 school districts nationwide closed buildings and moved instruction online in the spring of 2020, American life changed. This guide identifies some of the legal issues school leaders should be considering as schools reopen in a world where the new coronavirus and the illness it causes, COVID-19, continue to be major public health…

Professional psychologists considering becoming consultants to school systems need to address the problems of getting contracts, managing referrals, reporting results, and handling financial and legal matters. Contracts, in the author's experience, are won less by knowing administrators than by offering low prices and performing well on initial…

This publication recommends that school districts include a legal plan in every school construction project. The author discusses negotiating agreements with the project architect and construction manager early on; exercising due diligence in selecting the project team; determining proper levels of professional liability insurance; clarifying…

A discussion of informed consent by human subjects in experimentation presents background on the consent issue, including federal requirements; lists factors that may affect a subject's ability to understand the consent document; and offers suggestions for preparing consent forms to ensure the subject's better comprehension. (Author/MSE)

When drafting or reviewing a personnel handbook, university administrators should be sure the handbook conforms to legal and constitutional requirements, and they should also make clear the parts of the handbook that actually constitute a contract between the employee and the university, as well as indicate the means by which the handbook can be…

A discussion of the relationship between the campus activities programing office and performers addresses the need for a contract, its essential and optional elements, sponsor and artist rights and responsibilities, ethical considerations, riders, potential conflicts, and the need to check legal issues with college counsel. (MSE)

As college and university financial officers pursue business partnerships to boost institutional revenue, they must consider how these agreements affect the tax exempt status of their financing arrangement, continually monitoring use of facilities financed with tax-exempt debt. Issues to be addressed include the provisions of service contracts,…

Results of a survey of 447 universities concerning the use of fixed-price contracts for research are presented, and guidelines for the use of such contracts are suggested. (MSE)

Describes how to select materials needed by the growing legal self-help movement, the importance of currency, and publishers in the field. An annotated bibliography of 25 titles includes general guides and books focusing on estate planning, going to court, contracts, animals, immigration, domestic issues, real estate, and bankruptcy. (KRN)

This document outlines the various types of insurance policies and their functions to help school administrators improve their management of risk. Eight exhibits highlight information on the following topics: the five basic sections of all insurance policies; key property insurance clauses; general liability; school board legal liability; the…

Three categories of legal issues generated by computers on campus are examined: copyrights on programs developed by students, faculty, or staff; contracts in purchasing computers and torts concerning wrongful use; and the expectation that schools will respond to legal/ethical issues differently than commercial organizations. Suggestions for…

A discussion of the drafting of contracts for international sponsored research projects focuses on the terms of award that relate either to sensitive topics for international sponsors or to significant legal or financial risk to an institution. Issues specific to newly industrializing and developing countries are highlighted. (MSE)

Six principal factors appear crucial to the successful operation and management of university-industry research agreements: (1) leadership; (2) understanding of cultural differences; (3) organizational structure; (4) legal issues, institutional policies, and contractual mechanisms; (5) capacity and resources; and (6) faculty workload. Balancing…

Legal and statistical problems arise in sex discrimination suits in higher education, and it is important for litigants to understand the peculiarities of the issues in analyzing these cases. The analyses are applicable to recruitment, hiring, contract renewal, salary, promotion, and tenure claims. (MSE)

The rapid growth of law and litigation in schools during the last several decades has made it critically important that school districts secure good legal advice and representation. This pamphlet is designed to address this need of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) membership by providing information on how to select, compensate,…