Education Law Links
Many laws govern or have an impact on K-12 education, and these laws are constantly changing and being applied and further interpreted by the courts. The sources of law and other online legal resources collected here are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.
Federal resources
Includes information on sources of federal law, the U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. courts.
U.S. Constitution
Cornell University Law School’s Legal Information Institute provides online access to the U.S. Constitution, annotated by section and amendment.
U.S. Code
The U.S. Government Printing Office provides access to the U.S. Code, the compilation of general and permanent federal laws. The Code can be searched or can be browsed by Title. The Title of the U.S. Code that is specific to education is Title 20.
THOMAS
Pending federal legislation can be accessed and tracked on the THOMAS website of the U.S. Library of Congress.
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
The U.S. Government Printing Office provides access to the U.S. Code, the compilation of administrative regulations adopted by federal agencies to implement and enforce federal statutes. The U.S. Department of Education’s title of the CFR is Title 34.
Federal Register
The Federal Register is where federal agencies publish required public notice of their administrative actions, such as notices relating to the promulgation of new regulations. The U.S. Government Printing Office provides online access to each day’s notices, which are organized by agency.
U.S. Department of Education (ED)
The department’s website includes information and guidance on federal education laws and programs.
Federal court locater
This feature on the website of the federal judiciary system provides a map of federal court system, including the U.S. circuit courts of appeals and district courts and enables the user to find the federal court(s) with jurisdiction in a particular locale.
U.S. Supreme Court
Opinions are available from the menu on the left-hand side of the U.S. Supreme Court’s website.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The Ninth Circuit hears appeals of decisions from the U.S. district courts in Washington, Oregon, and other Northwest states. Opinions from this court are available from the "Opinions" link in the upper, left-hand corner.
Washington resources
Includes access to information on sources of Washington state law, state education agencies, and state courts, as well as legal resources available from other Washington organizations.
Washington State Constitution
The Washington State Legislature’s website includes the text of the state Constitution, with annotations indicating past provisions and amendments.
Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
The Washington State Legislature’s website includes a searchable compilation of all the state’s permanent laws. Many of these laws apply to school districts, but the Common School Provisions of the RCW, the statutes that are specific to K-12 education, are under Title 28A. The State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has a collection of other selected state laws affecting public education here.
Washington State Legislature Bill Information
Pending state legislation can be accessed and tracked here on the Legislature’s website.
Washington Administrative Code (WAC)
The Washington State Legislature’s website includes a searchable compilation of all the administrative regulations that state agencies adopt to implement and enforce state statutes. The State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has links to its own WACs, as well as those of the State Board of Education and others affecting public education, here.
2011 Washington Common School Manual
The State of Washington annually publishes this compilation of most of the state statutes governing common school system operations and other statutes that affect school operations, as well as the corresponding administrative regulations adopted to enhance the statutes.
Washington State Register (WSR)
The WSR is a biweekly publication where state agencies publish required public notice of their administrative actions, such as noticed relating to the promulgation of new regulations. The state Office of the Code Reviser publishes the WSR on the Washington State Legislature’s website.
Washington Attorney General opinions
These opinions are requested by state officials and county prosecuting attorneys and are searchable here and also indexed by topic. They are not legally binding but indicate the state’s legal position on the question and generally are given careful consideration by the courts.
State of Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
OSPI’s website includes information on state education laws and policies, including state implementation of federal education laws and policies.
Washington State Board of Education (SBE)
The SBE provides information on its own responsibilities and initiatives, including in the area of school accountability.
Washington State Office of the Education Ombudsman
Tasked with helping to solve conflicts and disputes between Washington families and elementary and secondary public schools, this program in the Office of the Governor also provides publications in several languages for parents, on legal topics among others.
Washington State Courts
Recent slip opinions from the Washington Supreme Court and the Washington Court of Appeals are available from the link to Court Opinions in the menu on the left-hand side of this website. These and earlier opinions also are available here from the Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC).
Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) - Guide to Education Hearings
OAH provides an overview of special education and other Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) administrative hearings before administrative law judges (ALJs), including information on the seven areas in which OAH provides such hearings and links to the relevant statutes in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and the relevant regulations under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Washington special education due process hearing decisions
The Office of the Supreintendent of Public Instruction's (OSPI) website features summaries of and, where available, links to complete texts of special education due process hearings made by the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). The decisions are organized by topic and by year.
Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC)
PERC is responsible for processing representation and unit clarification cases and adjudicating unfair labor practice cases involving public employees in Washington who have collective bargaining rights. PERC's website includes links to relevant statutes and regulations and a searchable database of all of its published decisions.
Washington State School Directors Association (WSSDA)
Available here are some free legal publications from WSSDA’s Policy and Legal Services. WSSDA’s Washington Council of School Attorneys is the state’s professional association for attorneys who represent school districts.
Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA)
The resources section of WASA’s website includes publications relevant to school legal needs, including the implementation of education laws.
Washington Association of School Business Officials (WASBO)
Free publications available from WASBO include its Purchasing and Warehousing Manual, developed in conjunction with the State Auditor’s Office, and resources related to fundraising and management of funds raised.
Oregon resources
Includes access to information on sources of Oregon state law, state education agencies, and state courts, as well as legal resources available from other Oregon organizations.
Oregon State Constitution
The Oregon State Legislature’s website includes the text of the state Constitution.
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS)
The Oregon State Legislature’s website includes a searchable compilation of all the state’s permanent laws. Many of these laws apply to school districts, but specific statutes related to education are under Chapters 326-365.
Oregon State Legislature Bill Information
Pending state legislation can be accessed and tracked here on the Legislature’s website.
Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR)
The website of the Oregon State Archives includes a searchable compilation of all the administrative regulations that state agencies adopt to implement and enforce state statutes. The OARs also can be accessed by agency name or by chapter number.
Oregon Bulletin
The website of the Oregon State Archives features the current and past issues of this monthly publication of all administrative rulemaking actions by state agencies.
Oregon Attorney General opinions
The Oregon Department of Justice website includes a searchable database of formal and informal legal opinions signed by the state Attorney General. Formal opinions are issued on matters of statewide concern, while informal opinions address questions less likely to affect those other than the person requesting the opinion.
Oregon Department of Education (ODE)
ODE’s website features information on state education laws and policies, including state implementation of federal education laws and policies.
Oregon State Board of Education
The state board provides information on its areas of responsibility, including those related to assessments and accountability.
Oregon State Courts
Recent opinions from the Oregon Supreme Court and the Oregon Court of Appeals are available from the menu on the left-hand side of this website.
Oregon State Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH)
The OAH website includes a searchable database, also sorted by state agency like the Department of Education, of rulings by OAH administrative law judges.
Oregon special education due process hearing decisions
The Oregon Department of Education’s website provides information on administrative due process hearings in special education matters, including past due process hearing orders, organized by topic, that have been issued by state administrative law judges.
Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB)
The ERB administers the collective bargaining law that covers public employees of the State of Oregon and its cities, counties, school districts, and other local governments and resolves related labor relations disputes. Its website includes orders it has issued from January 2004 through the present, as well as a listing of its orders that currently are being appealed in court.
Oregon School Boards Association (OSBA)
OSBA provides several free online school law resources. OSBA’s Oregon Council of School Attorneys is the state’s professional association for attorneys who represent school districts.
Confederation of Oregon School Administrators (COSA)
COSA’s website includes some tools and resources related to implementing Oregon education law, including resources related to new, more rigorous high school diploma requirements and on the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).
The Oregon Association of School Business Officials (OASBO)
Among other resources, OASBO’s website includes a link to an electronic resource center created by the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials that includes Oregon resources.
Other education law resources
Includes legal resources on education from other national and state organizations.
National School Boards Association (NSBA)
The School Law section of the NSBA website includes many free resources. The NSBA Council of School Attorneys is the national professional association for attorneys who represent public school districts.
Education Law Association (ELA)
A national association of professors of education law, education attorneys, and administrators, ELA focuses not only on public K-12 education but also on higher education and on private educational institutions.
The School Law Blog
Education Week’s School Law blog is written by contributing writer and veteran education law reporter Mark Walsh.
The Edjurist
A “collaboration of Professor-Bloggers who teach education law in law schools and education schools,” this blog aims to “serve educational and legal practitioners as a resource for information and current events concerning laws and policies in our nation's K-12 schools.”