Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

School Law (Online)

EDUC 6740-70I

Course: EDUC 6740-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: TED
CRN: 20302

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to legal foundations for public education, investigating district policy, state board rule, state and federal statutes, and case law. (As Needed) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

All course materials will be provided to you in Canvas (there is no required textbook).

Learning Outcomes

This course provides an introduction to legal foundations for public education, investigating district policy, state board rule, state and federal statutes, and case law. Some of the essential questions we will tackle in the course are: 

  1. What are the legal bases for school policies? 
  2. What are teacher rights and freedoms in public schools? 
  3. What are student rights in public schools?
  4. What are teacher responsibilities regarding policy implementation in public schools?

In answering these questions, you will be able to do the following by the end of this course:

  1. Analyze and apply the legal bases for school policies.
  2. Identify, explain, and discuss teacher rights and freedoms in schools.
  3. Identify, explain, and discuss student rights in public schools.
  4. Identify and discuss teacher responsibilities.

Course Requirements

To successfully complete this course, students will need read and view the provided materials in each module. Additionally, each week the following assignments will need to be submitted by Sundays at 11:59 PM MDT:

1. Discussion Posts - Students provide an original narrative response to the discussion question posed and offer a meaningful and insightful reply to at least two classmates' posts.

2. Law Case Analysis Assignments - Students will provide a thoughtful and well-reasoned response to a hypothetical case study that invites them to apply the legal principles that they have read about during that week's topical coverage.

There are also three (3) major assignments that are due at reasonably spaced increments in the course. These assignments include:

1. Law Terms Quiz - Due Sunday, 17 May 2026 at 11:59 PM

2. A Guided Analysis of the student's District Policy and Procedures Handbook Assessment - Due Sunday, 7 June 2026 at 11:59 PM.

3. A Guided Analysis of the student's District Policy and Practices for Implementing Rights and Services for Individuals with Disabilities - Due Sunday, 28 June 2026 at 11:59 PM.

Course Outline

This course is divided in seven (7) Modules that correspond to the seven (7) weeks of the summer session in which it is taught. Each module addresses one or two legal topics that are relevant to teachers and administrators in P-12 educational settings.

Module 1 - Introduction to Public School Law & Religion in Schools
Module 2 - Teachers' Rights (Employment) & Copyright Law
Module 3 - Tort Liability (Negligent Supervision) & FERPA Requirements
Module 4 - Harassment, Bullying, and Defamation (viewed from the perspective of teachers and students)
Module 5 - Students' Rights & Fourth Amendment (Search and Seizure)
Module 6 - Student Discipline and Due Process
Module 7 - Students with Disabilities (IDEA, Section 504, and ADA)

There is approximately 100 pages of reading each week and students should plan to spend 20 hours per week completing the readings and assignments.

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

Assignment Due Dates are to be regarded as firm. Students should submit their work by the due date and the deadline established in Canvas. If a student can anticipate that an assignment will be submitted late, they should contact the instructor and explain the reason for a late submission. Assignments are typically open until the Friday after the due date, to account for unanticipated circumstances that interfere with the timely completion of the assignment. The instructor reserves the right to deduct a reasonable number of points for late submissions if they are not explained as soon as possible given the student's circumstances. As graduate students, the instructor reasonably relies on the professional expectations associated with being a teacher.

Attendance Policy

As online course, there are no attendance expectations. Students have the autonomy and flexibility to complete their work at times they see fit. They should carefully observe due dates in Canvas.

Course Fees

There is a $7.50 fee associated with this course.

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.