School Law (D017) at Western Governors University teaches future principals to apply laws, rights, policies and regulations to promote student success. It is one of the first courses in the M.S. Educational Leadership.
WGU's program guide describes it as covering the history of and relationship between federal and state law, legal decisions, local policies and school practice, along with the legal rights and protections of all students, including those with disabilities, and of school staff. Candidates also evaluate the legal consequences of administrative decisions.
D017 matters beyond itself: the guide names it as a prerequisite or recommended earlier course for People and Talent, Curriculum Design, School Financial Leadership and Leading Inclusive Schools. Students find it challenging because legal reasoning needs precision; a nearly right rule can lead to a wrong answer.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course | D017 School Law |
| Program | M.S. Educational Leadership |
| Level | Graduate, competency-based |
| Competency units | 3 (2019 program guide) |
| Typical work | Applying laws and cases to school scenarios; explaining rights and consequences |
What D017 Covers
| Competency (summarized) | Examples of relevant law |
|---|---|
| How law has shaped American schooling since the 1800s | Brown v. Board of Education (1954), compulsory schooling laws |
| Race, religion and instruction | Title VI, Engel v. Vitale (1962), Establishment Clause cases |
| Protecting students and their rights | Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), Goss v. Lopez (1975), New Jersey v. T.L.O. (1985), FERPA |
| Rights and protections of teachers | Due process, free speech of public employees (Pickering v. Board of Education, 1968) |
| Students with disabilities | IDEA, Section 504, Endrew F. v. Douglas County (2017) |
Your course materials set the cases you need. State law varies, so apply your own state's rules where a task asks.
Key Concepts Explained
The Hierarchy of Law
The US Constitution sits above federal statutes, which generally override conflicting state law. State law then shapes district policy, and school rules must fit within all of these. Court decisions interpret each level.
Student Speech and the Tinker Test
Under Tinker, schools may restrict student expression if it would substantially disrupt school activities or invade the rights of others. Later cases added exceptions, but Tinker remains the starting point.
Example: Students wear armbands with a political slogan. There is no sign of disruption. Applying Tinker, the principal should not discipline them simply because the message is controversial. If, however, the slogan targets specific classmates and leads to confrontations, the "rights of others" and disruption limbs may justify action, which should be documented carefully.
Reasonable Suspicion
T.L.O. set a lower standard than probable cause for school searches: a search must be justified at its start and reasonable in scope. This is a frequent scenario in assessments.
Due Process for Students
Goss v. Lopez held that students facing short suspensions are entitled to notice of the charges and a chance to tell their side. Longer exclusions require more formal procedures under state law and district policy, so check both before answering a discipline scenario.
Typical Work and How to Approach It
Follow your own course's assessment instructions. School law tasks usually ask you to work through scenarios:
| Type of work | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Scenario analysis | Applying the right law | Issue, rule, application, conclusion (IRAC) |
| Historical explanation | How law changed schooling | Link each case to the practice it changed |
| Rights explanation | Student or staff protections | Name the source of the right and its limits |
| Decision evaluation | Legal consequences | Identify risks and a lawful alternative |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Naming a case without applying it. State the rule from the case, then show how the facts fit.
- Mixing up IDEA and Section 504. IDEA covers eligible disabilities needing special education; Section 504 is broader and covers accommodations.
- Ignoring state law. Many tasks expect your state's requirements alongside federal law.
- Overconfident conclusions. Good legal writing notes where outcomes depend on facts.
Study Tips for D017
- Build a one-page case table: name, year, rule, school application.
- Practice IRAC on short scenarios until it is automatic.
- Look up your state department of education guidance on discipline and special education.
- Keep your notes; D017 content returns in later leadership courses.
How We Help with D017
Send the task, scenario, rubric and your state if relevant. A writer with education law knowledge can explain cases and statutes, review your legal analysis for accuracy and structure, or prepare an explained reference answer. Our law assignment help guide also covers legal writing method.
GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University and does not give legal advice. Our work is a study aid: use it to understand the law, then write and submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch with free revisions within the scope of your original request.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The relationship between federal law, state law, case law and local policy, the rights of students (including students with disabilities) and staff, and the legal consequences of administrative decisions.
The 2019 program guide names School Law as a prerequisite for People and Talent and recommends it before Curriculum Design, School Financial Leadership and Leading Inclusive Schools.
Your course materials define them. Commonly studied cases include Brown v. Board, Tinker v. Des Moines, Goss v. Lopez and New Jersey v. T.L.O.
IDEA provides special education for eligible students with qualifying disabilities; Section 504 prohibits disability discrimination and covers accommodations for a wider group.
IRAC works well: state the issue, the rule, apply it to the facts, then conclude.
No. We never take exams or access your WGU account. We explain the law and give feedback on your own work.