Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Organization of American Schools (Online)

EDUC 6540-70I

Course: EDUC 6540-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: TED
CRN: 30465

Course Description

This course provides an in-depth analysis of the function and organization of public schools in America, historical, philosophical, and reform issues are reviewed and how they impact the management, design and accreditation of K-12 education. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Campbell, D. & Fullan, M. (2024).
 
The governance core: School boards, superintendents, and

schools working together (2
nd
 
ed.)
Corwin. ISBN: 9781544344331

Grant, K.B. & Ray, J.A. (2023).
 
Home, School, and community collaboration (4th ed.)
. Sage.

ISBN: TBA

Learning Outcomes

Identify the relationships between school boards, school district offices and community

schools.

2.
 
Formulate a rationale for healthy board functions and healthy district/school/board

functions.

3.
 
Differentiate between philosophies of examining the nature and significance of effective

school/community relations, focusing on students, parents, school personnel, and

business and community organizations.

4.
 
Compare/contrast the role(s) that local, state, national, and international stakeholders play

in influencing the development of educational policy.

5.
 
Evaluate the role that mission and vision play within a school’s organizational structure

and everyday practices.

6.
 
Discriminate between the different lenses through which a school is viewed and how

these lenses can align through internal practice

Course Requirements

'Schedule of Assignments and Activities:

Week 1
 
Introduction to Course.

School Governance I: schools and boards

Discussion

AAA

Week 2
 
School Governance II: board function

Discussion

AAA

Week 3
 
Districts and Schools, Organizational Structures

Discussion

AAA

Week 4
 
Your School and Community I: Family Engagement and the

Responsible Leader

Discussion

AAA

Week 5
 
Your School and Community II: Family Engagement and Your School

Discussion

AAA

Week 6
 
Community School Mission, Vision and Values

Discussion

AAA

Week 7
 
Community Schools: Perceptions and Roles, the Lenses through

which the Community Understands the School

Discussion

Final Paper

Course Outline

7-Week Course Outline:

Week 1 – Historical and Philosophical Foundations of Public Schooling

  • Explore the evolution of public education in the U.S.

  • Analyze how philosophical beliefs shape educational reform and governance structures

Week 2 – Understanding the Governance Core

  • Examine the roles and relationships of school boards, superintendents, and school leaders

  • Discuss healthy governance practices and shared leadership

Week 3 – Mission, Vision, and Organizational Alignment

  • Analyze how mission and vision shape school culture and decision-making

  • Evaluate alignment between vision and practice at the school and district level

Week 4 – School and Community Relationships

  • Review effective partnerships between families, schools, and community organizations

  • Discuss collaboration strategies that support student success

Week 5 – Stakeholders and Policy Development

  • Identify local, state, national, and international influences on school policy

  • Compare how different levels of governance shape school practices and reforms

Week 6 – Collaboration Through Multiple Lenses

  • Understand how schools are viewed by various internal and external audiences

  • Explore how shared perspectives can support unified educational goals

Week 7 – Synthesis and Reflection

  • Reflect on the role of leadership, governance, and collaboration in educational improvement

  • Final project or presentation synthesizing course themes into a leadership action plan

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Assignments:

Students are deemed professionals in their field. This course is designed to encourage these

professionals to look within to determine the perspectives they bring to their individual

classrooms/schools. Work should be submitted by due dates.
 
The nature of a 7-week term

means that we move quickly and we cannot afford to allow late work to accumulate. Discussion

posts only receive credit if they are posted by the due date. Assignments that are late receive a

10-point per day penalty for the first two days late, after three days the assignment is recorded as

a zero.
 
If you are unable to submit work on time, please reach out to me prior to the due date

Attendance Policy

Attendance Statement: Class Attendance is Required:
 
If you are registered for a Face-to-

Face, Synchronous Remote, or Hybrid course, attendance is required. If you are ill or instructed

to isolate or quarantine, you may request a faculty member record the class and share it with you

or you may request other reasonable accommodations. Your instructor will work with you to

develop a plan for completing coursework while you are isolated/quarantined. In order for you to

receive academic accommodations and ensure that your request is communicated to faculty, you

must submit a self report form.
 
Course delivery modalities are posted online for each

course, but may be modified in response to emerging COVID conditions
: SUU is employing

every effort to maintain a learning environment that is engaging and safe. The course modality

listed when you registered for courses should remain for the semester; however, due to COVID

conditions, the delivery of modality for a specific course may change during the semester.

Normally, these changes will be short term (possibly the length of a quarantine or isolation time

period), or in some cases longer. When such a modification is needed, faculty members will

work with their department chair and/or dean and the students to maintain an effective learning

environment

Course Fees

$7.50

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.