https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9 Legal and Ethical Principals for Principals en-us 2018-10-26 02:20:35 UTC 2025-11-03 05:40:51 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Balance.png christan_pugh https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297244764
I am working on my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with my principal certification. I am currently a Curriculum Facilitator on my campus. I have been in education for 13 years. Upon completion of my course work I will become an assistant principal and then more on to head principal.

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I spoke with Teresa Willison, head Principal, at a middle school, about some of the legal issues that they face on a daily basis as well as issues that they come across through out the school year.

#1 Schools have to be careful in releasing student information to anyone. They rely on the front office staff to check IDs of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, to make sure they are on the students SIC cards. If the student's dad is not on the card, then legally they are not allowed to give out information. However, if the front office doesn't check the ID's and this information is given out then there will be grounds for a lawsuit.

#2 Student accommodations (504) fall in on the counselors. They have to make sure that receive all of the accommodations from the elementary. In the transition between elementary and middle school counselors on both sides have to make sure that the students paper work is in order.  The teachers are supposed to receive these accommodations before the students come into their classrooms.

#3 We spoke about a lawsuit concerning Special Education accommodations. Texas was sued by a family because their child was not given their accommodations. While another family had to fight in order to get their child into a SPED program
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/01/11/577400134/texas-violates-federal-law-education-department-finds

#4 Mrs. Willison and I spoke about how she stays current on legal ethical issues. She has to attend monthly principal meetings where issues that arise in our school district are discussed and our school attorneys are also at these meetings to make sure that the principals understand if a law has changed. They also talk to them about how to handle situations that have faced or are facing now. 

#5 Mrs. Willison and I talked about how she stays organized and on top of what all she needs to do. She keeps a spiral notebook with her at all times. If an issue arises she will make a quick note and put the date and the time that the incident happened or when she talked to a parent or teacher. She said that documentation and organization were the two key components in staying sane. She said that if she is ever questioned about anything her notebook is the first place she will look. 
She also said that last year our school was involved in a law suit with a SPED student. The mom did not think that the school had given her son correct accommodations. Mrs. Willison has her SPED teachers keep a log of the times and accommodations that took place. Then Willison looks over the documentation and files these sheet into a SPED binder that she has. If this binder didn't exist then her school could have been involved in a huge lawsuit


]]> 2018-10-26 15:40:59 UTC https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297450450 christan_pugh https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297695891  
After looking at the legal and ethical issues in the field of principals I am interested in exploring Special Education. This interested me the most because I have a daughter that has recently been tested for a processing disorder. She is in the SPED program at her elementary school. I also have a nephew that is a downs baby. I want to look deeper into the SPED world.  I looked at ASCD, NASET as well as NSBA
I also found a great powerpoint explaining the history of SPED and Legal issues in SPED. 

https://www.naset.org/index.php?id=4996 ]]> 2018-10-27 22:54:57 UTC https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297695891 christan_pugh https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297704434 I also chose to study youth suicide. Teen suicide is once again a big topic in middle schools and high schools. Educators are even seeing so elementary children that are emotional disturbed and talking about suicide. At the school that I work at, just Friday I spoke with a 6th grade girl that was cutting herself and told me she didn't want to live anymore. I want to know more of the law where this is concerned and how to help these kids.
I looked at ASCD, ASCA as well as NASB

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/magazine/blogs/july-august-2017/self-esteem-in-a-social-media-world

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/RAMP/SCEEthicalStandards.pdf ]]> 2018-10-28 02:19:13 UTC https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297704434 christan_pugh https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297706518 As an educator we are faced with issues every day that other professions are not. Whether you are a teacher, counselor, or principal students will confide in you if you show them that you care. In researching special education and youth suicide I was able to look at the law and how these two topics are viewed by the law. 

Special education has many laws in place protect the students, teachers, and ultimately the school. "In 1990 IDEA changed from midstream to inclusion or least restrictive environment. Abdullah (2013). Across the board, schools saw significant increases in reading and math in elementary. Special education is constantly updating the laws and policies that they have set in place with each court case that is presented. Every child should have a free and least restrictive environment, if possible. 

Youth Suicide is a topic that is widely discussed among educators. Individuals that work with teens that are suicidal are are a greater risk for being sued. "Suicide and attempted suicide are among the most common reasons for litigation in psychiatric patients." King (2013). In a school setting typically the counselors work with these students. They have to make sure that they document and go through the proper protocol. Counselors are to gather information about a child and determine if they are at an elevated risk of suicide. They have a check list of questions that they have to go through with the student. The purpose of these assessments are to "be brief and easy to implement, provide evidence that is reliable and values, and create a plan for communication, documentation, and follow up." King (2013). If the child is at a high risk then they are required to call the parents and refer them to the proper mental heath agencies.

As an educator and a future principal I need to know the laws that govern SPED. If a school doesn't follow the rules set forth the school and school district can be sued and held liable for not complying with the laws. Every SPED child has an IEP and the ARD committee sets the accommodations and modifications for the students. If theses are not flowed to the letter, parents have grounds for a law suit. I also want to be aware of the laws that are underlined for a student that is suicidal. If we follow the guidelines that are set froth and stay on top of the awareness school wide then we may be able to save the child before it's too late.


King,Cheryl (2013) Teen Suicide Risk: A Practitioner Guide to Screening, Assessing, and Management. 
 
Adbullah.Alquraini.(April 2013).Analysis of Legal Issues Relating to the Least Restrictive Environment Standard. Journal of Research in Special Education Needs, Vol 12, page 152-158.Education Source 

]]> 2018-10-28 02:57:40 UTC https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297706518 christan_pugh https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297811204 In searching in the ASU library and the internet, I found an article that discuss the laws and principles of youth/Teen suicide. This article discusses the rights of the teen's privacy, but also the responsibility of the adult that the youth reports to. The school counselors never want to be the final domino.

http://soe.syr.edu/academic/counseling_and_human_services/modules/Suicide_Risk/ethical_and_legal_issues_of_suicide.aspx 

King,Cheryl (2013) Teen Suicide Risk: A Practitioner Guide to Screening, Assessing, and Management.

]]> 2018-10-28 21:36:51 UTC https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297811204 christan_pugh https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297813222 In searching the ASU library I found several articles that discuss the law regarding special education students. These articles are eye opening for parents and educators. They law out why the law is shaped the way it is and how the law came about. They also discuss the difference between the 504 students and the SPED students and the laws that cover each. The world of SPED and 504 are constantly changing and updating laws that pertain to kids as well as school and educators.

Adbullah.Alquraini.(April 2013).Analysis of Legal Issues Relating to the Least Restrictive Environment Standard. Journal of Research in Special Education Needs, Vol 12, page 152-158.Education Source

https://www2.ed.gov/policy/speced/guid/edpicks.jhtml?src=sm]]> 2018-10-28 21:53:27 UTC https://padlet.com/christan_pugh/igy471m6c6n9/wish/297813222