1 Law and Learning

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LAW AND LEARNING
Discovering the Relationship between the Law and Your School
Linda Ontiveros
EAD-505
7/8/2020
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LAW AND LEARNING
As we move up the ladder of a school system, we find ourselves with more
responsibilities. When we land in the role of a principal, we see that there are many more
policies and laws to enforce in education. Not only do principals have to enforce policies, they
must also stay on their toes of the ever-changing policies that exist. Laws and policies exist for
our personnel, instructional programs, and our students. Amongst all of this we must think about
the best way to enforce them while being conscious about what can happen if we don’t. There
are many faces to the policy game and managing all of them is the job of a principal.
One face of policy is the variety. Policies exist for personnel, students, and educational
programs. Polices for personnel include things like pay, classroom sizes, safety, etc. When
looking at a student’s side we have policies like “the IDEA act which provides free public and
appropriate education for students with exceptional needs” (Crane, 2019, p. 77). Many policies
for students are set to give students the best possible education and access to the help they need.
Educational program policies include things like minutes of each subject, minutes required for
English language learners, and school improvement plans. School improvement plans are created
with a variety of members and are submitted to the state in order to be held accountable for
following it through.
A second side to all of this policy talk is the results of not following them properly. Some
policies are much easier to implement than others. It is sometimes said that some policies are
said to favor those with money instead of our children. How do you implement policies without
compromising others?
School leaders, globally, are increasingly regarding educational policies as problematic,
not only because their implementation sometimes competes for limited resources in the
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LAW AND LEARNING
implementation of other policies, but also because the content of policies can be vague
and conflictual. (Miller, 2019, p. 471)
There are times when we might not always get it right, and we must be ready for what’s to come.
Within our district we are held accountable by district administration, school board, and state.
There are certain policies which can be handled through the district itself while others are taken
care of directly by the state. If there is suspicion of a policy violation, there are certain steps that
are taken within the district.
All complaints are forwarded to the governing board (the board can initiate suspicion of a
violation). After this the superintendent will investigate and determine if there was a
violation. After investigation the superintendent can either hold an administrative hearing
or take the matter before the board. If a violation was committed, then it is the
superintendent’s job to impose discipline. (Arizona School Board Association, p. AC-R)
Juggling the needs and wants of a school also involves policy. When making decisions
there are many routes for considering the best ones. School districts can bring ideas before the
board for approval when making big moves; Principals can put committees together within their
school to discuss options; and sometimes the principal just makes educated decisions on their
own.
The job of a principal will never be an easy one. Something that is hard to do can also be
rewarding and that includes being a principal. Extensive training is given to administrators in
order to serve all parties to the best of their ability. In the end, the better principals we are, the
bigger the reward.

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LAW AND LEARNING
References
Arizona School Board Association. (2016). Policy Manual and Administrative Regulations:
Crane Elementary School District No. 13. Retrieved from
https://policy.azsba.org/asba/browse/crane/crane/root
Crane School District. (2020). 2019-2020 Parent/Student Handbook Grades K-8. Retrieved from
craneschools.org/studenthandbooks
Miller, P. (2019). The Political Dichotomy of School Leadership: Policy, Practice, Social Justice
-- Evidence from Sixteen Countries. Research in Educational Administration &
Leadership, 4(3), 469–492.

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1

LAW AND LEARNING

Discovering the Relationship between the Law and Your School

As we move up the ladder of a school system, we find ourselves with more

School leaders, globally, are increasingly regarding educational policies as problematic,

and conflictual. (Miller, 2019, p. 471)

are taken within the district.

superintendent’s job to impose discipline. (Arizona School Board Association, p. AC-R)

bigger the reward.

Crane Elementary School District No. 13. Retrieved from

-- Evidence from Sixteen Countries. Research in Educational Administration &

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