This book focuses on the influence that law and politics have on the educational system. This is a newly emerging view of schools in an increasingly pluralistic, complex, and technological society. In such a context, an understanding of legal principles and how those principles affect educational practice is essential for the school leader not only to lead effectively, but also to limit the risk of legal liability. Compartmentalization of responsibility among local, state, and federal governments has created a structure of public education law that is a hybrid of statutory enactments, agency rules, administrative regulations, judicial interpretations, and judicial opinions. Under the heading of "site-based management" or "full-service schools," the current climate of education reform may require school leaders to assume greater responsibility for policies and operations. Chapter titles are as follows: (1) "Religious Neutrality in the School Setting"; (2) "The Content and Contest of Student Speech"; (3) "Reasonable Suspicion for a Search"; (4) "Educationally Sound Due Process"; (5) "Employee Discipline and Documentation"; (6) "Teacher Competency and Evaluation"; (7) "Employee Speech on Public Concerns"; (8) "Prohibited Discrimination"; (9) "Entitlements to Special Education"; and (10) "Reasonable Prudence and Risk Management." Endnotes follow each chapter. (Contains an index and a legal glossary.) (RIB)