State And Federal Laws Relating To Nonpublic Schools

Today, a parent's right to choose a private education for his or her children is reflected in the statutes of all 50 states. State regulation of private schools, however, is not without limitations. The challenge to state legislators in regulating private schools is to draft legislation that: (1) respects the fundamental right of parents to direct the education of their children; (2) protects the states' interest in an informed citizenry but avoids interference with religious beliefs unless compelling interests are at issue; and (3) avoids comprehensive regulation of private education that would deprive parents of any choice in education. This handbook presents findings of a study, initiated by the Office of Nonpublic Education, U.S. Department of Education, that conducted a state-by-state analysis of state laws regulating private education. The study, which includes all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia, identified the following general areas of regulation advanced by state legislators: recordkeeping and reports, licensing/registration/accreditation, health and safety, curriculum, and public funding. The data show that none of the states regulates private schools in the same way. The report contains comparison charts depicting state oversight of private schools, state-mandated educational requirements, and public assistance to private schools and private school children. (LMI)

The Law of Special Education and Non-Public Schools provides an informed explanation of Section 504, the IDEA, their regulations, and the cases that they have generated. Even though, the authors offer educators information on the rights of children in non-public schools, this book is not a how-to manual. It is designed to help make educators and parents aware of the requirements governing the laws that impact the rights of children with disabilities in order to implement both Section 504 and the IDED. In light of the detail that the book provides, it serves as a current and concise desk reference for educators ranging from building or district level administrators to classroom teachers to resource specialists in special education and related fields.