Best Interests of the Student presents both a theoretical model for guiding educators as they confront legal and ethical dilemmas in their schools, as well as highly accessible and annotated court cases for exploration. Stefkovich introduces an ethical decision-making model that focuses on strategies for determining what actions are in the "best interests of the student," and demonstrates the application of this theoretical model for examining legal and ethical dimensions of court cases. Discussion questions at the end of each case encourage readers to examine issues from differing viewpoints, helping them to become more self-reflective school leaders who can effectively address legal dilemmas in their own contexts. This important text is a valuable resource for both aspiring and practicing school administrators and leaders. This thoroughly revised edition features: An entirely new chapter focusing on issues surrounding technology, specifically bullying, harassment, and "sexting" 13 new legal cases to reflect recent developments in school law, including issues of free speech, teacher accountability, and school policies A continued focus on preparing leaders to meet the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium (ISLLC) ethics standard

Best Interests of the Student presents both a theoretical model for guiding educators as they confront legal and ethical dilemmas in their schools, as well as highly accessible and annotated court cases for exploration. The authors introduce an ethical decision-making model that focuses on strategies for determining what actions are in the "best interests of the student," and demonstrates the application of this theoretical model for examining legal and ethical dimensions of court cases. Discussion questions at the end of each case encourage readers to examine issues from differing viewpoints, helping them to become more self-reflective school leaders who can effectively address legal dilemmas in their own contexts. This important text is a valuable resource for both aspiring and practicing school administrators and leaders. This thoroughly revised edition features: • An entirely new chapter on conceptual and empirical insights grounding our understanding of students’ best interests • 10 new legal cases reflecting recent developments in school law including educational needs of transgender students, immunity for student searches, conflicts between religious expression and free speech, educators’ access to students’ cell phone data, education for children of undocumented immigrants, and access to literacy as a fundamental right • A focus on preparing school leaders to meet the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) • Updated information and references throughout to reflect current context, resources, and education policy

What is in the best interest of our students? Is it teaching to the newest standards movement, like the Common Core? Teaching that prepares students to take a test? Or is it something more meaningful and authentic? In his new book, In the Best Interest of Students, Kelly Gallagher notes that there are real strengths in the Common Core standards, and there are significant weaknesses as well. He takes the long view, reminding us that standards come and go but what remains constant is the need to stay true to what we know works in the teaching of reading, writing, speaking and listening. Instead of blindly adhering to the latest standards movement, Kelly advocates: - Dialing up the amount of reading and writing students are doing. - Balancing rigorous, high-quality literature and non-fiction with high-interest, student-selected titles. - Giving students much more choice when it comes to reading and writing activities. - Encouraging readers to deepen their comprehension by moving beyond the "four corners of the text." - Using modeling to enrich students' writing skills in the prewriting, drafting, and revision stages. - Helping young writers to achieve more authenticity through the blending of genres. - Resisting the de-emphasis of narrative and imaginative reading and writing. - Providing students with more opportunities to sharpen their listening and speaking skills - Planning lessons that move beyond Common Core expectations. In this provocative and insightful new book, Kelly surveys the teaching landscape since the publication of his highly regarded book Readicide, and finds that although some progress has been made, more needs to be done. Amid the frenzy of trying to teach to a new set of standards, Kelly Gallagher is a strong voice of reason, reminding us that instruction should be anchored around one guiding question: What is in the best interest of our students?

In his new book,In the Best Interest of Students: Staying True to What Works in the ELA Classroom , teacher and author Kelly Gallagher notes that there are real strengths in the Common Core standards, and there are significant weaknesses as well. He takes the long view, reminding us that standards come and go but good teaching remains grounded in proven practices that sharpen students' literacy skills.Instead of blindly adhering to the latest standards movement, Gallagher suggests:Increasing the amount of reading and writing students are doing while giving students more choice around those activitiesBalancing rigorous, high-quality literature and non-fiction works with student-selected titlesEncouraging readers to deepen their comprehension by moving beyond the four corners of the text-Planning lessons that move beyond Common Core expectations to help young writers achieve more authenticity through the blending of genresUsing modeling to enrich students' writing skills in the prewriting, drafting, and revision stagesResisting the de-emphasis of narrative and imaginative reading and writingAmid the frenzy of trying to teach to a new set of standards, Kelly Gallagher is a strong voice of reason, reminding us that instruction should be anchored around one guiding question: What is in the best interest of our students?

Three distinguished authorities in law, psychiatry, and child development critically evaluate current child placement laws.

A large body of research in disciplines from sociology and policy studies to neuroscience and educational psychology has confirmed that socioeconomic status remains the most powerful influence on children’s educational outcomes. Socially disadvantaged children around the world disproportionately suffer from lower levels of educational achievement, which in turn leads to unfavourable long-term outcomes in employment and health. Education in the Best Interests of the Child addresses this persistent problem, which violates not only the principle of equal educational opportunity, but also the broader principle of the best interests of the child as called for in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Building on the children’s rights work accomplished in their previous book, Empowering Children, Brian Howe and Katherine Covell identify three types of reform that can significantly close the educational achievement gap. Their findings make an important argument for stronger and more comprehensive action to equalize educational opportunities for disadvantaged children.

Though decades ago school shootings were rare events, today they are becoming normalized. Active shooter drills have become more commonplace as pressure is placed on schools and law enforcement to prevent the next attack. Yet others argue the traumatizing effects of such exercises on the students. Additionally, violence between students continues to remain problematic as bullying pervades children’s lives both at school and at home, leading to negative mental health impacts and, in extreme cases, suicide. Establishing safer school policies, promoting violence prevention programs, building healthier classroom environments, and providing better staff training are all vital for protecting students physically and mentally. The Research Anthology on School Shootings, Peer Victimization, and Solutions for Building Safer Educational Institutions examines the current sources of violence within educational systems, and it offers solutions on how to provide a safer space for both students and educators alike. Broken into four sections, the book examines the causes and impacts that peer victimization has on students and how this can lead to further violence and investigates strategies for detecting the warning signs. The book provides solutions that range from policies and programs that can be established to strategies for teaching nonviolence and promoting coexistence in the classroom. Highlighting a range of topics such as violence prevention, school climate, and bullying, this publication is an ideal reference source for school administrators, law enforcement, teachers, government and state officials, school boards, academicians, researchers, and upper-level students who are intent on stopping the persisting and unfortunate problem that is school violence.