A Principals Response to Legal Scenarios

A Principals Response to Legal Scenarios

When a legal situation arises in a school, the staff and the community look to the principal to decide what happens next. The principals decision-making must weigh the well-being of the school community alongside educational law and school policy.

In this assignment, you will practice making decisions for your school by writing about how you would respond to six different scenarios with legal implications.

Step 1Download and read theA Principals Response Legal Scenariostemplate. You will write your responses to the scenarios in this document.

Read each scenario carefully. Research what educational law states about remaining legally compliant in the scenarios.

Step 2Act as a principal to develop a detailed response to each scenario.

For each response, include:

how the principal should act based on educational law and the well-being of the school community;a bulleted, sequential list of actions to be taken by the principal and other pertinent stakeholders;rationale that includes the educational law and school policy that support your decision-making; and

what the principal must do after the scenario to ensure future legal compliance.

You do not have a specific length requirement for each response. Your responses should reflect a thorough understanding of the relevant laws and a description of exemplary planning and behavior by the principal.

Note:Although you are not composing an APA-formatted paper, you must still include APA-formatted in-text citations and a references list to support your decisions. Sources must be reputable and published within 5 years unless it is from a seminal work.

Step 3Delete the directions at the top of the template.

Informally assess your work using the assignment rubric to ensure youve met all requirements.

Submit your completedA Principals Response Legal Scenariosdocument.

Time-Sensitive Preview:In Module 4, you must meet with your mentor to get feedback on parts of your Module 4 assignment. Preview the assignment to plan accordingly.

Rubric

EL5753 Module 3 Scenario Response Rubric

EL5753 Module 3 Scenario Response Rubric

Criteria Ratings Pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Response to Scenario #1 20to >17.0pts

Mastery

The evidence-based narrative response to the identified scenario is consistent with and aligned to best practices. The narrative reflects an authentic portrayal of a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is an evidence-based next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy and a data-informed decision-making process. 17to >14.0pts

Proficient

Embedded within the submission is a narrative response to the identified evidencing a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is a next steps component, including supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy. 14to >11.0pts

Marginal

Some, but not all, assignment requirements for the scenario response are met. 11to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Most assignment requirements for the scenario response are not met. 0pts

No Submission

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Response to Scenario #2 20to >17.0pts

Mastery

The evidence-based narrative response to the identified scenario is consistent with and aligned to best practices. The narrative reflects an authentic portrayal of a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is an evidence-based next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy and a data-informed decision-making process. 17to >14.0pts

Proficient

Embedded within the submission is a narrative response to the identified evidencing a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is a next steps component, including supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy. 14to >11.0pts

Marginal

Some, but not all, assignment requirements for the scenario response are met. 11to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Most assignment requirements for the scenario response are not met. 0pts

No Submission

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Response to Scenario #3 20to >17.0pts

Mastery

The evidence-based narrative response to the identified scenario is consistent with and aligned to best practices. The narrative reflects an authentic portrayal of a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is an evidence-based next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy and a data-informed decision-making process. 17to >14.0pts

Proficient

The narrative addresses a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is a next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy. 14to >11.0pts

Marginal

Some, but not all, assignment requirements for the scenario response are met. 11to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Most assignment requirements for the scenario response are not met. 0pts

No Submission

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Response to Scenario #4 20to >17.0pts

Mastery

The evidence-based narrative response to the identified scenario is consistent with and aligned to best practices. The narrative reflects an authentic portrayal of a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is an evidence-based next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy and a data-informed decision-making process. 17to >14.0pts

Proficient

The narrative addresses a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is a next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy. 14to >11.0pts

Marginal

Some, but not all, assignment requirements for the scenario response are met. 11to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Most assignment requirements for the scenario response are not met. 0pts

No Submission

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Response to Scenario #5 20to >17.0pts

Mastery

The evidence-based narrative response to the identified scenario is consistent with and aligned to best practices. The narrative reflects an authentic portrayal of a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is an evidence-based next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy and a data-informed decision-making process. 17to >14.0pts

Proficient

The narrative addresses a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is a next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy. 14to >11.0pts

Marginal

Some, but not all, assignment requirements for the scenario response are met. 11to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Most assignment requirements for the scenario response are not met. 0pts

No Submission

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Response to Scenario #6 20to >17.0pts

Mastery

The evidence-based narrative response to the identified scenario is consistent with and aligned to best practices. The narrative reflects an authentic portrayal of a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is an evidence-based next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy and a data-informed decision-making process. 17to >14.0pts

Proficient

The narrative addresses a principals actions following considerations of law and the wellbeing of the school community. Included within the response is a next-steps component, including a supporting rationale related to educational law and school policy. 14to >11.0pts

Marginal

Some, but not all, assignment requirements for the scenario response are met. 11to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Most assignment requirements for the scenario response are not met. 0pts

No Submission

20pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProfessional Dispositions, Laws, Ethics, and Professional Standards

(CAEP RA1.1) 10to >8.5pts

Mastery

Demonstrates exceptional application of relevant dispositions, laws, ethics, and/or professional standards in education. Clearly justifies practice with relevant professional expectations. Practices align with the highest professional standards, legal compliance, and exemplary ethical behaviors and connections are explicit and detailed. 8.5to >7.0pts

Proficient

Demonstrates appropriate application of relevant dispositions, laws, ethics, and/or professional standards in education. Practices represent legal and professional behaviors. The applications of laws, ethics, or professional standards to practice are aligned, appropriate, and accurate. 7to >5.5pts

Marginal

Applications of professional dispositions, laws, ethics, or standards are addressed. Some connections between the legal and professional expectations are identified but practices/behaviors may be inaccurate or irrelevant. 5.5to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Application of professional dispositions, laws, ethics, or standards is missing or inappropriate. Some applications may be illegal or unethical. 0pts

No Submission

10pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeUse and Understanding of Research

(CAEP RA1.1) 10to >8.5pts

Mastery

Demonstrates an insightful understanding of the application and use of research in the professional field. Explicit connections between research and professional work in education are provided. References and citations indicate substantial use of research. All sources are cited in the text and were published within the last 5 years except when seminar work is required. 8.5to >7.0pts

Proficient

Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the application and use of research in education professions. References and citations indicate use of research. The majority of sources are current (within the last 5 years) and from professional and credible publications or organizations. 7to >5.5pts

Marginal

Some understanding of research use is evident. Additional evidence and/or elaboration are needed to demonstrate an adequate understanding of the application and use of research in education professions. References and citations indicate minimal research. Sources are outdated or from non-professional or non-credible sources. 5.5to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

In-text citations and/or reference listings are missing or do not match, indicating inadequate research on the topic and/or minimal understanding of how to apply and use research in education professions. 0pts

No Submission

10pts

This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAPA Format and Writing Mechanics 10to >8.5pts

Mastery

Submission is free of spelling, formatting, and grammatical errors. Submission is well-formatted and professional. 8.5to >7.0pts

Proficient

Submission contains minimal spelling, formatting, and grammatical errors that do not impede the understanding of the concepts and plans. 7to >5.5pts

Marginal

Submission contains multiple spelling, formatting, and/or grammatical errors. Some ideas are unclear due to errors in writing mechanics, or multiple elements of APA format are not followed. 5.5to >0.0pts

Needs Improvement

Submission contains extensive spelling, formatting, and grammatical errors that significantly impede the understanding and presentation of ideas. 0pts

No Submission

10pts

Total Points:150

Legal Scenarios

Directions: For each of the legal scenarios, respond from the perspective of the principal. Explain your decision-making process and support the steps you will take with educational laws and/or policies.

Scenario 1. The lead special education teacher for a class of students with severe disabilities who are vulnerable and noncommunicative feeds them peanut butter as part of a learning module. The teacher forgets to check the allergy list prior to feeding the students the peanut butter, and one student has a severe reaction. The lead teacher takes the student to the school nurse and withholds the information about the consumption of peanut butter. The lead teacher then instructs the paraprofessionals, the student teacher, and the co-teacher to lie about the incident, and she disposes of the evidence by taking the trash to her car. Awhile later, the mother of the child calls the school from the hospital to ask if the child consumed anything that could have caused the reaction. The principal checks with the lead teacher who answers that the child did not consume anything that would have caused the issue. Later, the principal gets a call from the local university supervisor of the student teacher who reports the child was fed peanut butter, and all adults were instructed to lie about the incident. What does the principal do?

Response:

Scenario 2. A teacher reports to the principal they are uncomfortable about a situation between a male teacher and a female student. The teacher reports the male teacher and female student are known to eat alone quite often in a classroom. The reporting teacher is also uncomfortable with the touching that goes on between the teacher and student which includes hugging. What should the principal do next?

Response:

Scenario 3. A parent calls the school office and reports to the principal that a teacher repeatedly tells students how soldiers can kill the enemy in the quickest way possible. The parent says the teacher has even demonstrated techniques using students as the victim. The principal has spoken to the teacher before about avoiding these topics in the classroom. The principal confronts the teacher about the new information, and the teacher admits the information is true. What should the principal do next?

Response:

Scenario 4. A teacher reports one of their students comes to school day after day and is more and more distant from classmates and less engaged. The principal asks the school counselor to interview the child who will not say what is going on at home but admits they are afraid to go home in fear for their own safety and the safety of their siblings. What should the principal do next?

Scenario 5. A student experiences ongoing bullying-like behavior from a classmate. One day, the student receives a threatening text from the classmate. Although the principal has been communicating with the parent of the student accused of bullying, the parents of the victim are claiming discrimination based on race as they feel the school has not done enough to protect their child. What should the principal do next?

Response:

Scenario 6. After reviewing placement in advanced courses of high school students, the principal discovers some of the highest performing, diverse middle school students are not enrolled in advanced and honors courses when they reach high school. The principal meets with the high school counselor who explains the students are selected for advanced and honors classes by teacher recommendations rather than student achievement score performance. What should the principal do next?

Response: