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State and Local Regulations
Aside from these federal statutes governing specific rights, most of education law regulating activities and people in schools is handled on a per-state basis. For example, matters of school violence, accidents, security, and discipline of students are local-authority decisions. Two hot topics in today's schools and parent-board meetings are the permissibility of drug testing and searching students (and their lockers) for disallowed items. Such civil rights are actually covered under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides that such actions must be based on a “reasonable suspicion.” However, “probable cause,” also a provision of the law is not necessary for in-school searches of students or their lockers.
Typically, a state board of education oversees the education goals and responsibilities of the state. States are required to ensure that every child receives an adequate education.
States also regulate private education institutions, such as charter schools and religious academies. Consult the Department of Education in your state for specific information on these opportunities. Qualifications and certification of teachers, as well as setting educators' codes of ethics, are matters regulated by state law.
By Kathleen Goolsby
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